^^ * 



c 









^^. ,c\^'^' 



* ^"^ 



5 -^ 



:?-^ 



•>-• 






oo'^ 












%'-r;^';^^\# 



.^■:^ "^^^ 



'-^^ 









^-^J^ / 



.0 



.^-^ 



.^• 






,v" --r- 









.. _ V v 

,^\\ . " -^ ^ 






< 



,0o^ 






.Vv^' 






'-:7,. ' ft ft s 












« r\ 












,0 o 



■^'•' 



'%.'->:^^^,o^' 



c..^^ •\ 



^ 






■f-. 



"% ^^ 



A-^- 



o> . -> » 



?.'".">■ '^'r 






'^.<^' 






i^^~ 















_•"> 



,^:^ -^^ 












.'■^^^ 



,c, 



■T^. 



-v,/' 






: 






^^ 



■^ci-. 



- .0^- 



,\'~ 



%. 









■V 






. ^^^ 



'^ 



V- 



^^.^^ 



,-V 



,'^:* , V ' « 















0"^^ 



' 't- 







0-' 



-^^^ 



\^ 



,\' 



>"^ <: 



I B 



* , '^, 












'^ ^'^'"^ 



-I 



■* .A 



'\. 






















'OO 



A 



"K^. ' * ., s o ■ ■ 






v^' „ If * ^ V: 






■^^^^ 



■"oo^ 



•■K 






• •• 



■^■'^-. 






?^^ c- 




V, * 



A' 



■X^ 



'^<?. 



^" .^x"^"" 






■i 





















/- 



V 



Oo 



.v^' 






'n. . -*> .A 



■^c. 



o_ V 



y^>^^ 






,<^- 



^ 





i 



HISTORY 0.F 

MAHASKA 
COUNTY 



*'So tell the story that the 'world today <will 
be the better for its recital" 




By 
MA NOAH H E D G E 





'Ju(7fid' 




>''t. . V ■'a(''.£, tZ<.i'.'!' ~ 




v^ 'i *l 









Introductory 



The history of a commonwealth formation for the pioneer period has 
like Mahaska county is the history been the men and women them 
of the upward struggles and achieve- selves who were early on the fron- 
ments of individuals and the study tier and know whereof they have 
of human life is always interesting, spoken. To them most of all we 
We have inherited the soil which are indebted for the facts and inci- 
in some measure has been made sa- dents herein related. As it would 
cred by the privations and toils of not be possible to give sketches or 
a generation which in a few years to make personal mention of any 
will havB no living representatires large number of persons, we have 
among men. The pioneers received confined ourselves to the briefest 
these lands with rejoicing from the outlines in the lives of only a few of 
hand of Nature, and have patiently sub- the leading spirits who were put 
dued and nurtered the soil into its forward in the organization and set- 
present richness and beauty. These tlement of the county. It is not an 
heroic spirits now only modestly ask easy task to write such a histoiy, 
a resting place from their toils in but the hours of anxious thought 3n 
the bosom of mother earth. These arranging and presenting these facts 
articles have grown out of a desire so as to make them interesting and 
to perpetuate their memory and the readable have been lightened b/ the 
valor of their achievements. pleasure in the labor which prompt- 

The almost exclusive source of in- ed the undertaking. 



V 



V4l^ 



\{ 



Chapter One 

The First I<yo)a. Explorers and What they Found 

The first inhabitants of Iowa and ed an Indian trading post for some 
fhe Mississippi Valley are known as years near Qubec. The two explor- 
the "Mound Builders." From the ers met at Mackinaw and proceeded 
implements of stone and copper and to Green Bay and passed up the 
the fragments of woven cloth and Fox river for some distance to avil- 
other trinkets which are found in lage of the Miami and Kickapooln- 
the mounds which they left we 5iave dians. This was the farthest out- 
reason to believe that they had post to which even the zealous Jes- 
made some progress in the scale of uit missionaries had ventured, and 
intelligence. Strange as it may they called a council of the chiefs 
seem, these mounds have preserved and head men of the village and 
the work of their hands, including told them of the object of their voy- 
skeletons, through tBTe ages without oge. The Indians tried in vain to 
number that have elapsed since they dissuade them from pursuing so 
became an extinct race. Of what perilous a journey by telling them 
absorbing interest it wouti be if of the savage tribes they would meet 
we could know something of their and the monsters which infested 
manner of life, their numbers, cus- forest and river, but the two young 
toms, the purpose of these imperish- explorers were unmoved. Their 
able earthworks, how long they minds were ripe for adventure, and 
were here and the cause of their ex they answered, "We are firmly re- 
termination; but aboriginal races solved to do all and suffer all for so 
preserve no history and further defi- glorious an enterprise." They en- 
nite knowledge of this interesting gag'ed Miami guides to pilot them 
race must remain forever unknown, across the portage between the Fox 

Two Frenchmen, James Marquette and the Wisconsin rivers. Here 
and Lewis Joliet and their five they dismissed their guides and em- 
French Canadian companions were barked in the two little bark canoes 
the first white men who ever looked which they had brought with them 
upon Iowa soil. Botn these young and for seven days they floated 
men had been educated at a Jesuit down the waters of the Wisconsin, 
college in France. Marquette was On June 16th, 1673, they were swept 
twenty-six years of age and had into the broad waters of the Missis- 
been a missionary among the Indi- sippi and beheld the rugg-ed bluffs 
ans in the French possessions for on the western shore a few miles 
a number of years. Joliet was below where the city of McGregor 
twenty seven years of ag'e. He was now stands. Floating down on the 
thoroughly acquainted with the Indi- bosom of its spacious waters they 
an life and customs, having conduct- felt the ispiration of their great 

—3- 



diBcovery. The Indians at Green ing meadows and the distant 
Bay had told Marquette of the ru- clumps of forest and thicket had an 
mor of a great river far toward the entrancing beauty. They followed 
setting sun and his consuming am- the trail for six miles and saw 
bition to be among the first Europe- another river and on its banks an 
ans to look upon its valleys and Indian village. A few miles further 
plains and to carry a knowledge of on the uplands there were other vil- 
the true God to its people had been lages. The natives were greatly 
gratified. The only supplies they astonished at the approach of the 
had brought with them was enough white men but made no hostile dem- 
Indian com and dried meat to for- oustrations) Tney received them 
ward them on their journey. It was cordially and appointed four of 
the delightful month of June, the their old men to meet the two 
month of singing birds and bloom- strangers in council. Marquette, who 
ing flowers and new bom foliage, had spent most of his young man- 
Herds of buffalo, deer and elk roam- hood as a missionary among the In- 
ed the praiSries and forests. They dians in the lake region, could 
were passing through the richest speak their language, which was a 
and fairest region in the world, great delight to the natives. They 
yet it was an entire solitude. There informed him that they belonged to 
were no signs of human habitation, the "Illini" tribe, (meaning in their 
Marquette called the river the language, "we are men"). They 
"Broad River of Conception.' ItS' smoked the pipe of peace together 
present name is a compound of Al- and extended them a most wel- 
gonquin words, "Missi" signifying come greeting, inviting them to 
great and "sepe," a river. share the hospitality of their vil- 

Floating down the current of the lage. Marquette told them the ob- 
great river they landed from time to ject of their visit and that they had 
time and supplied their camp with been sent to them by the French, 
abundance of fish and game. Every who were their friends. True to 
day added new joys to the explor- his vows, the good man toid them in 
ers. The prairies stretching on his first formal address of the great 
either shore and the fringing wood- God worshipped by the white man 
lands that marked the course of the and that he was the same as the 
streams in the distance. All were Great Spirit which they adored, 
ladenwith the rich perfume and fra- One of the chiefs addressed them as 
grance of June. After eight days follows: 

they landed on the western shore "I thank the black gowned chief 
and discovered human footprints in and his friend for taking so much 
the sand. pains to come and visit us. Never 

Marquette and Joliet left their five before has the earth been so beauti- 
companions in charge of their can- ful nor the sun so bright as now. 
oes and followed the footprints to Never has the river been so calm or 
the river bluff. Here they found a free from rocks, which your canoes 
trail leading westwards across a removed as they passed down, 
prairie. They looked in vain for Never has the tobacco had so fine a 
some sign of camp or wigwams but flavor, nor our corn appeared so 
saw none. All had the stillness of beautiful as we behold it today. 
a wilderness solitude but the wav- Ask the Great Spirit to give us life 

—4— 



and health and come ye and dwell 
with us." 

At the close of this fraternal con- 
ference the visitors were invited to 
a feast prepared by the squaws. 
Marquette has also given us a com- 
plete description of this feast. It 
consisted of four courses. The first 
was a preparation of corn meal boil- 
ed In water and seasoned with oil. 
The second course of boneless fish 
nicely cooked. The third roasted 
dog, which, when their visitors had 
declined with thanl^ they at once 
removed from sight. The last 
course was a roast of Buffalo, the 
fattest pieces of which were passed 
to the Frenchmen, who tound it to 
be most excellent meat. 

Mai'quette's narrative is rendered 
in verse in Longfellow's beautiful 
poem, Hiawatha. 

The two Frenchmen remained six 
days with their Indian frienas, 
hunting, fishing and bathing. Ev- 
ery day with them was a day of 
feasting. The natives exerted them- 
selves in every possible way to con- 
tribute to their entertainment and' 
comfort. This is the generous and 
beautiful spirit shown to the first 
white men v/ho visited Iowa. The 
stream on whose banlfs this confer- 
ence and reception occurred was the 
Des Moines river and the place of 
their landing on the Mississippi is 
supposed to be near where the town 
of Montrose now stands, in Lee 
county. Marquette and his party 
could not be induced to remain 
long'er. They were accompanied 
back to their canoes by ah" escort of 
six hundred Indians. They parted 
regretfully with their newly made 
friends, who gave them repeated in- 
vitations to renew their visit. 

As an expression of his sincere 
friendship the Illinois chief present- 



ed Marquette with an ornamented 
pipe of peace — the sacred calumet. 
This he was to suspend from his 
neck as a sure protection from sav- 
ag'e tribes whom the party might 
meet. This expression of friendship 
proved a timely safeguard to th'e 
brave party of explorers. They con- 
tinued their journey down the river, 
being carried on its current by day 
and camping at night on the snore. 
Frequent excursions were made, ex- 
ploring forests and prairies and row- 
ing up the streams which emptied 
into the Mississippi. They passed 
the mouth of the Missouri and called 
it "Muddy V/ater." The clear wat- 
ers of the Ohio were called the 
"Beautiful River." In latitude 32 
degrees we are told they cam© into 
the territory of a savag'e tribe who 
appeared on the bank of the river 
armed with bows and arrows and 
tomahawks ready for battle. The 
fearless Marquette was undaunted 
and held aloft his sacred Calumet. 
These signs of peace checked the 
rage of the warriors and after a con- 
ference the chief invited Marquette 
and his party to their village, where 
they feasted them for several days 
and furnished them with fresh sup- 
plies for their journey. Marquette 
was quite a different character from 
the Spanish freebooters of tho 
south a hundred years previous to 
his visit. The explorers extended 
their journey as far south as the 
mouth of the Arkansas rirer, a dis- 
tance of nearly eleven hundred 
miles. It was extremely hot. The 
Indian tribes were hostile and Mar- 
quette was unacquainted with their 
language. Should the company be 
killed their discoverer would never 
be made known to the civilized 
world. Asin every case, from the 
first decision to embark in the ex- 
ploration, until its close, these 



-5- 



young men acted from a BensB of bee to make a report of their joint 

duty. After considering the situa- discoveries to the governor of Cana- 

tion they decided it was their duty da. They had made a long journey 

to return to Canada and make a r&- of over two thousand miles without 

port to their sovereign. For days the losss of a man. Joliet received 

and weeks they made their way as a reward for his services the 

against the current of the maj'estic gift of the island of Anticosta in the 

river until they reached the Illinois. Gulf of St. Lawrence. There is no 

Here they learned from the Indians record that Marquette ever received 

that in ascending this river they anything. Hfe asked nothing, but 

would find a shorter route than the counted it a pleasure to bear a 

way they ha<i come. Going up the knowledge of th© true God to these 

Illinois river for two weeks, they wilaerness tribes. James Marquette 

crossed the short portage to the Chi- was at the top of the list of noble 

cago river and reached Lake Super- men sent out by the Roman Catho- 

ior. Here the two explorers separ- lie church to do missionary work 

ated, Marquette returning to resume in the Mississippi Valley and the St. 

his work as a missionary among the Lawrence basin. 
Indians, and Joliet going on to Que- 



Chapter Two 

First White Settlers in I<ywa 

It was one hunder and fifteen chief who presided over it, the vil- 

years after the explorations made by lage of Kettle Chief. 

Marquete and Joliet until the first Lead had been discovered near the 

permanent white settlement was village in 1780 by the wife of a 

made in what is now the state of prominent Fox warrior. Young Du- 

lowa. buque succeeded by shrewd manag- 

Julien Dubuque had the honor of ment and persuasive methods in 

forming such a settlement within gaining the confidence of Kettle 

the present limits of the city of Du- Chief and his people. He had giv- 

buque in the year 1788. He was en some attention to mlneraloJogy 

born in the province of Quebec Jan. and mining and obtaied permission 

10, 1762 and received a good educa- to cross the Mississippi and explore 

tion; was a good writer and enter- its western shore for lead ore, which 

taining conversationalist. Going he found in liberal quantities. The 

west at the age of twety-two, he be- lease bears the date of Sept. 22, 1788 

came an Indian trader. Settling at and was drawn at Prairie du Chien. 

Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, but Having secured the lease to a tract 

what was at that date the province of land nine miles wide up and down 

of Louisiana. There was a Fox vil- the rivier, Dubuque took with him 

lage on the western shore of the in that year ten Canadians, crossed 

Mississippi where the city of Du- the river and formed a settlement 

buque now stands named for the near the Indian village. As Du- 

—6- 



buque had secured the friendship of He built homes for his people. 
Kettle Chief, himself and his com- encoruaged farming and erected a 
panions were allowed to make their mill. His settlement was known ev- 
home in the Indian lodges in the erywh'ere to possess all of the con- 
village, veniences of which its remote fron- 
He had his overseers, smelters, wood tier situation would permit, 
choppers and boatmen. The point For twenty-two years Dubuque and 
now known as Dubuque Bluff was his colony of whites lived with the 
the site of a smelting furnace. He Indians, carrying on mining opera- 
kept a store, bought and sold furs, tions and trade with the settle- 
Indian trinkets, and did quite an 'ex- ments down the Mississippi river, 
tensive business in connection with Dubuque died March 10, 1810, 
mining and preparing the ore for from an attack of pneumonia. The 
market. He gave employment to the leader and pioneer of the first white 
Indian women and old men of the colony in tlie future state of Iowa 
Fox tribe, the stately warriors left no family. He was followed to 
counting it a disgrace to do manual his grave not only by his own peo- 
labor of any kind. As a compliment pie but by the population of the en- 
to the Spanish governor, he gave the tire villag'e, by all of whom he was 
name of the "Mines of Spain" to beloved. He was buried on one of 
his growing industry. the bluffs, two hundred feet above 

In common with most of the the river. Some years afterwards 

French traders he married an Indi- his friend, the Fox chief, was bur- 

an woman and adopted in a large led near his grave, 

measure the Indian mode of life. Dubuque's death brought great 

Twice each year Dubuque took a changes to the little colony. The 

barge load of ore, furB, hides and Indians refused to allow the mining 

other frontier products to St. Louis, operations to continue. Schoolcraft 

which he sold or exchanged for says they burned down his house, 

goods and supplies for his settle- and fences and erased every vestige 

ment. He was known as the largest of civilized life. 

trader in the Mississippi valley and During the twenty-two years that 
his semi-annual visits were often the Dubuque was at the head of his set- 
occasion of banqueting and festivity tlement, from 1788 to 1810, the ter- 
in that frontier town. ritory was owned by three different 

He is described as a man of medi- nations, viz: Spain, France and 
um size but strongly built, black the United States. The mines after- 
hair and eyes, having the courtly, ward came to be called "The Du- 
gracious and polished manner of a buque Lead Mines." 
polished Frenchman. ^^ ^^^ ^lo^g ^^ ^^^ Black Hawk 

In the course of years of trade -v^ar the mines were reopened and in 

Dubuque became heavily indebted to i833 there were 500 white people in 

St. Louis merchants, which sonsider- the mining district. At a meeting 

ably involvea his estate. His dip- of the settlers the next year the 
lomacy always won for him a fav- place was called Dubuque, 

orable hearing by those high in au- The next white settlement made 

thority and influence, but he was within the limits of Iowa was by 

not so successful a financier. Basil Gerard, a French American, in 

-7— 



1795 in Clayton county. It contain- of Dr. Isaac Galland, who settled 
ed over 5,800 acres and is known on in Lee county in the spring of 1829, 
Iowa maps as the "Gerard Tract." Dr. Samuel C. Muir was an army 
After the Louisiana purchase a pat- surg'eon located at different times 
ent was issued to Mr. Gerard by the at the frontier forts along the Mis- 
U. S. government. This document is sissippi river. He was a native of 
interesting because it is the first Scotland and a graduate of Edin- 
legal document granting land to a burgh University and higtly re- 
white man within the limits of the gpected by every one as a man of 
state of Iowa. rare culture. He had married a 

Louis Honore Tesson, a French bright and intelligent Indian girl of 
Canadian, made the third settlement the Sac nation. WhU'e located at 
in 1799. He procured the liberty of Fort Edwards, now Warsaw, Illinois, 
establishing a trading post at the he crossed the river and built a cab- 
head of the Des Moins Rapids on in where Keokuk now stands. Some 
the west bank of the Mississippi, time afterwards the war depart- 
and selected his location in Lee ment issued an order which requir- 
county, where Montrose now stands, ed officers of the frontier to aban- 
He erected buildings for a trading don their Indian wives. Dr. Muir 
post, opened a farm and planted refused to abandon his family and 
crops. Some of the seedling apple resigned his position as surgeon 
tr'ees planted by Tesson bore fruit with the army. When he was urged 
for seventy-five years. to reconsider his action he took up 

The first Iowa school house was his first born child and said: "May 
built in Lee county in 1830 and the God forbid that a son of Caledonia 
first school was taught by Berryman should ever desert his wife or aban- 
Jennings. In that early settlement don his child." Himself and wife 
that year also was born the first lived happily in their little cabin 
white child within the limits of the home on the Mississippi until his 
Btarte, Eleanor Galland, a daughter death in 1832. 



Chapter Three 

Important La.nd Deals <with the Indians 

The name Iowa was first applied year 1700 they migrated westward, 

to a large district of country lying crossing the Mississippi and locat- 

between Lake Michigan and the ing on the Iowa river. This tribe of 

Mississippi river. The Wisconsin Indians gave their name totheriver 

river was the north line and II- which they located and from it the 

river was the north line and the II- territory and state were named, 

linois bounded it on the south. On the SOth of April 1803, France 

This extensive area was called Iowa ceded to the United States her ter- 

county in 1829. It was so named be- ritory between the Mississippi rirer 

cause it had been the former home and the Rocky Mountains, known as 

of the Iowa Indians. In about the the "Louisiana Purchase," for $15,- 

—8— 



000,000. In 1804 what is known as as it was then called, was published 
the state of Iowa was included in the in 1836 by Lieutenant Albert M. 
District of Louisiana. March 3, Lea, for whom Lee county was nam- 
1805, it was organized into the Ter- ed. Li'eut. Lea was a civil engineer 
ritory of Louisiana. In 1812 it was and a skilled draughtsman. His 
included in the jurisdiction of the work as a soldier enabled him to ex- 
Territory of Missouri. June 28, 1834, plore much of the then unknown re- 
congress provided that "All that gion in central and southern Iowa. 
part of the territory of the United Mr. Lea pays this tribute to the 
States bounded on the east by the Iowa pioneers he had met while 
Mississippi river, on the south by scouring about over the new country: 
the state of Missouri, on the west by "The character of the population 
the Missouri and White Earth riv- settling in this beautiful coun- 
ers and on the north by the north- try is such as is rarely 

era boundary of the United States, found in other new terri- 
shall be attached tO' Michigan Terri- tories. With few exceptions there is 
tory." not a more industriou53, orderly and 

The state of Iowa was embraced energetic population west of the Al- 
in this territory and for judicial pur- leghenies than are found in the 
poses was made a part of Michigan. Iowa District." 

In September of 1834 the Michigan Mr. Georga Catlin, a famous In- 
Assembly divided the Iowa District dian painter and historian, visited 
into two counties by running a line the Indian tribes in Iowa some years 
due west from the lower end of the earlier than Mr. Lea and has many 
island of Rock Island. The terri- enthusiastic descriptions of the beau- 
tory north of this line was named ty and solitude of these western 
Dubuque county and all south of the prairie lands. We give a short ex- 
line was called Des Moines county, tract: "The stately march of our 
Courts were organized in each growing population to this vast gar- 
county. The place of meeting for den spot will surely come in surging 
the county on the north was Du- columns and spread farms, houses, 
buque, and Burlington on the south, orchards, towns and cities all over 

The first court was held in a log these remote wild prairies. Half a 
house in Burlington in April, 1835. The century hence, the sun is sure to 
governor of Michigan appointed the snine on countless villages, silvered 
judges for these new counties. Is- spires and domes, denoting the 
aac Loeffer was appointed to preside march of intellect and wealth's re- 
in Des Moines county and John finement in this beautiful and far-off 
King in Dubuque county. Judge solitude of the west, and we may 
King was the founder and publisher perhaps hear the tinkling of the 
of the Dubuque Visitor, the first bells from our graves." 
newspaper established within the In the Louisiana Purchase from 
limits of the state of Iowa. France on April 30, 1803, as in all 

A census taken in 1836 gave the purchases made by the United 
two counties in the Black Hawk States, it was always the policy of 
Purchase, Dubuque and Des Moines, the government to recognize the 
a population of 10,531. claims of the various Indian tribes 

The first book ever published de- to the territory which they occupied, 
scriptive of Iowa, or Iowa District, No bona fide grant or guarantee 

—9— 



could be given by the goverment to grant of land was tt© payment of an 
any of these lands until the Indians' annual sum of twenty thousand dol- 
title had been satisfied by treaty lars for thirty years, and also the sum 
and purchase. of fifty thousand dollars of indebted- 

A number of treaties were made ness which these tribes owed to cer- 
with the Sacs and Foxes, who occu- tain Indian traders on the river. It 
pied almost all of eastern Iowa. was estimated that the cost to the 

A treaty made Sept. 21, 1832, government was about nine cents per 
known as the Black Hawk Purchase, acre for this splendid session of lands, 
opened the first lands in Iowa for At this time the Sacs and Foxes num- 
gettlement by the whites. This bered about thirty-five hundred per- 
treaty was made on the spot where sons. They moved their families over 
the city of Davenport now stands. near the Des Moines river between 
General Winfield Scott and Govern Ottumwa and agency City, which lat- 
or Jno. Reynolds of Illinois represent- ter place became the new Indian 
ed the United States. The Indian agency. 

tribes were represented by Keokuk, On Oct. 11, 1842, a final purchase 
Pash-e-pa-ho, Black Hawk and other was made from the Sac and Fox In- 
chiefs. The negotiations were con- dians of all their remaining lands west 
ducted in a large tent erected on the of the Mississippi. The treaty was 
west bank of the river. It is describ- negotiated at Agency by John Cham- 
ed as an unusually interesting scene, bers, governor of Iowa Territory. 
In contrast with the gay uiforms of These deliberations took place also 
the soldiers and the painted warriors, in a large tent. To insure good order 
•adorned in their very best costumes, a troop of dragoons from Fort Des 
were the hardy hunters and trappers Moines were present under the com- 
who hung about the council to watch mand of Captain Allen. There was 
the proceedings. always considerable display on these 

June 1, 1833, was the date wlien the treaty occasions. The Indians loved 
first Iowa purchase was thrown open show and parade and the government 
to the settlers. Antoine Le Claire officials encouraged it so that the dig- 
acted as interpreter for this treaty, nified chiefs and their braves might 
He had long lived among tne Indians be properly impressed. The governor 
and had married an Indian wife. To at this treaty wore a brilliant uniform 
show their strong friendship for him of a brigadier general of the United 
they had reserved for his wife 640 States Army. He and his staff sat at 
acres of land where Davenport now one end of the tent on a slightly ele- 
stands and an equal amount for him- vated platform. The chiefs were 
self north of Davenport, where the seated in front of this platform and 
town of Le Claire is now located. the interpreter occupied a position be- 

By this treaty the Sacs and Foxes twee^n the two representative bodies, 
ceded to the United States a tract of The Indians were likewise attired in 
land containing six million acres ex- their best. Each had purchased a 
tending from the northern boundary new blanket at the agency. Leggins 
of Missouri to the mouth of the Up- of white deer-skin, feathers, beads, 
per Iowa river, having an averag-e rings and painted faces made up their 
width of fifty miles west of the Mis- apparel. It is said also that each 
sissippi river. chief carried a profusely decorated 

The consideration paid for this war club to give decorum to the oc- 

— 10— 



casion. There was mucli talk, for the which should be of absorbing int'ereat 
Indians love to make speeches and to every citizen within its limits, 
listen to them. The words of each The early settlers almost always 
speaker were translated by the inter- speak of this grant as the "New Pur- 
preter that it might be clearly under chase." The Indians were to vacate 
stood. the eastern portion of these lands on 

The Indians pleaded eloquently for May 1, 1843, and two years later they 
their charming hunting grounds with were to leave their beautiful Iowa 
their beautiful forests and meadovra. hunting grounds and cross the Missou- 
They loved Iowa as dearly as the ri, never to return. They had Deen 
white man does today. The compen- crowded westward from the state of 
sation semed a large sum to them, but Ohio. They lingered about their 
it was as trash compared with the once cheerful camp fires, brooding 
home of their forefathers. sadly over their certain doom. Worn- 

The winter of 1842-3 was the sever- en wept as they went about the drudg- 
est that had yet been known in Iowa, ery of gathering their household 
It was a trying winter on the settlers goods together for the long journey, 
as well as the disheartened savages. Men were melancholy and silent as 
The chief medicine man of the tribes they looked for the last time on for- 
who had strongly opposed giving up est, stream, and prairie. But there is 
their lands, now said to the Indians: no alternative. Primitive races must 
"This cold weather and these hard- retreat or be absorbed by tne aggres- 
ships have come upon you because the sive forces of civilization. Over and 
Great Spirit is angry at you. You over again history has written this 
have parted with the last of your pos- almost unalterable decree. Only 
sessions. You have sold the home once in all recorded history has this 
of your fathers. Manitou is displeas law been reversed. When William 
ed." the Conqueror came over to England 

The Indians had confidence in their from the continent in the year 1066 
piophet and observed solemn cere- with his Norman-French army and 
monies to pacify the Great Spirit. subdued our forefathers, the gritty 

This grant of land comprised per- Anglo-Saxon never gave up his native 
haps two-thirds of the present state tongue. He submitted as best he 
of Iowa, containing 10,000,000 acres, could to the dominion of the French 
for which the disheartened and re (Jourt, but clung with everlasting 
treating red man received $800,000 in tenacity to his own language and his 
annual payments, with five per cent own individuality and in the end of 
interest per annum. the centuries the strong character and 

It was this purchase from the Sacs life of the Anglo-Saxon dominated,and 
and Foxes which included the terri- his once proud conquerors were ab- 
tory from which Mahaska county was sorbed and lost to sight in the jostle 
surveyed, the history and growth of of the years. 



■11- 



Chapter Four 

Some Early Mahaska. Settlers 

The settlement and organization Mclllvain obtained permission from 

of ttie counties in Iowa Territory the Indians, as no settlements were 

was begun by the legislature by allowed by the government until the 

first organizing counties along the following spring. The winter of 

west bank of the Mississippi river. 184Z-43 was an unusually severe 

As each county was organized and winter. The snow which fell in the 

the settlements moved westward it fall remained on the ground until 

was made to include all settlers be- late in the spring. This cabin was 

yond its western border. This occupied by the family of John B. 

was done for legal and judicial pur- Gray, who had arrived from Texas 

poses. It gave settlers located be- November 1st of that year. The 

yond the geographical i>orders on cabin has only been destroyed in re- 

.A.Q west, election privileges and cent years. 

equal protection under the law. In Mrs. F. A. French of Keokuk, who 

this way Mahaska county commis- ig the youngest child of the Gray 

sioners exercised Jurisdiction over family, states to the writer, who 

the region as far west as the terri- was well acquainted with the family, 

tory now included in the city of Des that she distinctly remembers about 

Moines. Among the county records ^er mother relating the incidents 

is an order granting a license for and the experiences of that trying 

one year to John Scott allowing him winter, located as they were so far 

the liberty of "keeping a ferry from civilization, 
across the Des Moines river at the 

mouth of the Raccoon river near " ^'^^ ^^^^ '^^^^^^ ^^ ^ewevBX his- 

Fort Des Moines on the payment of *^°^^^s ^^ '^^^ c^^^^^ ^"^^ '^^^^^ that 

the sum of ten dollars into the ^ ^^ "^^ ^^'^ ^^^^ o^ McBeth had 

county treasury." The license lim- ^"^^^ *^® ^""^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^'^^ Mr. 

ited the ferryman to specific charg- ^""^^ secured it from him. This, 

es, ranging from five cents for sheep ^^owever, must (stand corrected, as 

and hogs to fifty cents for four ^® ^^^^ *^*« information from those 

horses and wagon. ^^° ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ s^^^^- M^«- ^^^^ 

The first cabin erected within the ^^^^ ^^'^^ Mcllvain were sisters, 

boundary of what is now Mahaska Mr. Mcllvain came from Indiana, 

county was built on the flat north of and afterwards entered land out 

Eddyville in the fall of 1842 by a Mr. near Six-Mile ,where he remained 

William Mclllvain, who was a hunt- until the year 1850, when he joined 

er and trader of that period. Mr. one of the many caravans which 

-12- 



crossed tbe plains to Colorado in Indian villag-e and supplied the In- 
the search for gold. dians and hardy woodsmen for 

Mr. Gray was born in Caledonia twenty-five miles distant, or more, 
county, \ermont, April 9, 1809. Hi's with blankets, saddles, guns, ammu- 
grandfather was 'a member of a New nition and other frontier neces'si- 
Hampshire regiment and lost his ties. His books were kept by Rich- 
life while serving as a soldier in the ard Butcher. These books are still 
Revolutionary war. In February, in existence and show the names 
1834, he emigrated to what was then representing 2,004 Indians who had 
known as Black Hawk Purchase, open accounts at the post. The ac- 
Michigan Territory, stopping near counts are kept in the name of the 
the little village of Flint Hills, now head cf the family and give the 
Burlington. The town had been laid number of persons which he repre- 
out the previous fall. Had a small sented. Kish-ke-kosh, our Mahaska 
general store and a ferry boat. At county chief, ran up a bill amount- 
a meeting of its citizens to give the ing to almost two hundred dollars-, 
town a better name i^r. Gray sug- Other prominent chiefs whose names 
gested Burlington, the name of his appear on these boclvs are Wapello, 
bume town in Vermont, it was well Pashe-pa-ho and the wife of KeokuR. 
re:eived, and the company agreed Mr. Eddy had a grant from the gov- 
that if Mr. Gray would put in a gen- ernment of 640 acres of land lying 
eral store he should have the honor on the east bank of the Des Moines 
of naming the place. He consented river, and when the Indians moved 
to this proposition and remained in toward the west in 1843 he laid off 
uusinesB in Burlmgton until 1838, 160 acres into a town plat and call- 
when he removed to the republic of ed it Bddyville. At this time about 
Texas. Finding things very unset- one hundred of its population is in 
tied in that country he turned all Mahaska county. 

hi. property into horses and drove By the first of May, 1843, the date 
tnem north overland, selling them when the reservation was opened 
as he came through the states. The to settlement, many of the anxious 
fall of 1842 found him as above stat- settlers had quietiy worked tneir 
ed. When the Sac and Fox reser- way across the borders in spite of 
vatlon was opened for settlement on lue vigilance of the patrolling dra- 
May 1, 1843, he entered three hun- goons, who kept constant watch on 
dred and sixty acres of land two the eastern and southern border of 
and one-half miles west of Eddyville the Indian reservation to keep off 
where he remained until his death intruders. Wagons were not allowed 
In 1876. to cross the line but a small com- 

Mrs. Gray was the daughter of a pany of men on foot without axes 
pioneer flatboat captain on the Mis- were permitted to pass into the 
sissippi and was inured to frontier "Promised Land" and make such 
life. She drove a team through on observations as suited their fancy, 
the return trip from Texas. iiatchets and axes were almost in- 

Eddyville was then known as Hard variably smuggled in without han- 
Fish's Village, this being the name dies in bundles or under the clotn- 
of the chief who presided over the ing, and handles were improvised 
inhabitants. At this time J. P. when needed. These hardy children 
Eddy had a trading post near the of nature when worn by the day's 

-13— 



tramping would lie down wherever hand over hill and valley, here driv- 

night overtook them, and with some ing a stake or there blazing a tree, 

slight protection from the wild or in some definite way marking 

beasts would rest until the welcome the corners and lines of the land 

dawn of another day. which should be the muchi-coveted 

Richard Parker, who was an early ar- abiding place of themselves and their 

rival In the New Purchase, told the children in the peaceful passing of 

writer that he had often found him- the years. This was the delgihtful 

self alone when night came on when dream of the early settler. The first 

en these frontier exploits and would settlers avoided the prairies. Their 

crawl into the thickest hazel brush, ideal was a comfortable cabin in the 

so as to make it quite impossible edge of the timber, near a spring or 

for wolves, which he dreaded most, a running stream, where game 

or any other animal, to approacu would be plentiful and fuel close at 

his hiding place without making Aand. 

feuflBcient noise to awaken him. Dr. E. A. Boyer, who was one of 

Here, with his trusty gun well load the early pioneers in Scott town- 

ed and lying by his side, he would ship, was bom in Maryland March 

Bleep sountJly and sweetly until 13, 1816. His father was a slave 

morning. These adventures, which holder at the time of his birth but 

seem thrilling to us, were a part of liberated tnem and removed to Ohio 

the life of those who followed close where the doctor grew to manhood, 

upon the heels of tne retreating In- receiving a medical education. Dr. 

dians. They simply made tlie besi Boyer was married in 1840 to Miss 

of their surroundings and thougnt Mary Wiley, who survives her hus- 

but little about it. band and still presides over the old 

There was considerable relaxation home, which was built near where 
in the rules governing the settlers as the first cabin siood oh the banks 
tue time approached when all re- of the Des Moines river, in Scott 
strictions snould be removed. Per- township. Although far advanced 
haps thousands of the newcomers in years she has a distinct 
had their claims selected before that memory of most of the events 
date, and on the night of April 30 that have transpired in the west in 
camped on the ground and h''d the sixty-two years of her residence 
Suarpened stakes and primitive in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Boyer came 
torches already manufactured, so to Iowa the same year of their mar- 
that when the moon and stars indi- riage and made their home in Van 
cated the midnight hour they left Buren county until the opening of 
their campfires with exultation and the New Purchase. He was one of 
rejoicing to measure off as accur those who staked off his land at 
ately as possible the three hundred midnight April 30, 1843. A cabin 
and twenty acres which should be was built at once and his family re- 
the home of the family, which moved to the new home. Mrs. 
awaited their return, near the bor- Boyer says the temporary floor of 
der of the reservation. It was a that first cabin was made of bark 
night of too much joy and gladness and that those years brought them 
to sleep and we are told that the the fullest measure of happiness and 
woods rang with many a hurrah and contentment. The doctor practiced 
cheer as they went with torch in his profession actively for fifteen 

-14- 



years. In the days when the river his certain knowledge this rule was 
traffic counted for much he had a adhered to during his stay, 
general store at Rochester and 

Feilefountaine. ne was enterprising Poultney Loughridge came from 
and became wealthy, but made no Ohio to Iowa in 1842, wintering in a 
one poorer. The Boyer estate still cabin four miles north of Richland, 
has over a thousand acres of land in The following spring in March him- 
Mahaska county. self and three others, John McAllis- 

Van B. Delashmutt came at the ter and Edwin and Robert Mitchell 
same time and was a neighbor of quietly slipped across the border of 
Dr. Boyer and they were lifelong the New Purchase in search for 
friends. Born in Virginia, he serv- choice claims. They made their se- 
ed two terms in the legislature of lection in Spring CrBek township, 
that state. Coming west to better but decided not to return home but 
his condition, he became wideiy to remain on the ground until tne 
known in Iowa and the west. He land should be open for settlement, 
was a typical pioneer. His son, W. i^earful of being discovered by the 
A. Delashmutt, states to the writer Indians or the dragoons, they select- 
that when he crossed the plains in ed the most dense thicket that could 
1849 he was laid up for fourteen be found in which to build a small 
days in Salt Lake City with moun- cabin which would afford them tem- 
tain fever. While in that condi- porary shelter and seclusion. On 
tion, lying in his tent, he was visit- the night of April 30 they did not 
ed by Brigham Yourlg ,who placed sleep. Stakes, torches and land- 
him under the care of a skillful phy- marks had all been selected. They 
Bician, gave him comfortable quar- had brought with them a pocket 
ters and visited him every day of compass, which proved of much val- 
his illness. The great leader told ue in the wilderness. Mr. Lough- 
young Delashmutt that when his ridge's father was a surveyor and 
people were going through Iowa a his son was versed in that science, 
few years before a large party of As soon as the hour of midnight had 
them had camped for the winter pasised they struck out, torch in 
near his father's house and that his hand, and before daylight their 
kindness to them had made his claims were all staked. Cabins were 
father's name a household word in built as soon as possible for the fam- 
many a mountain home. The young ilies who were in waiting, and the 
man had been absent from home conquest of the new farms began, 
that winter. The Mormon chieftain For the first year letters were mail- 
also stated that the Iowa people had ed at Fairfield or Brighton. Letter 
been universally kind to his people postage was twenty five cents, but 
and they should be well treated in later reduced to ten cents. Produce 
passing through his dominion, but was sometimes hauled to Fort Des 
that the people from Illinois and Moines and exchanged for calico at 
Missouri should not be allowed to twenty-five cents per yard, and other 
camp nearer to Salt Lake City than useful household supplies. Hogs 
four miles because of their cruel were driven to Keokuk and sold for 
and inhuman treatment of those one dollar and twenty-fire cents per 
who had embraced the Mormon hundred pounds. Ague and fever 
faith. Mr. Delashmutt says that to were mucu dreaded. James Lough- 

—15— 



rMg-e still owns ttie farm which his says that when her husband failed 

father 'entered. to return at a reasonable tim© in 

Mrs. H. P. Martin, now in her the evening her anxiety for his safe- 

. , ^ ^, . , , ^ o -^^ ty would become so intense that she 

eighty-third year, came lo Spring •' 4„ i,„„ o,.rv,c 

^ •' J ' would take her baby in her arms 

Creek township, where she still ^^^ g^ ^^^11 she would find him still 
lives, in 1843. Her husband staked at his work or on his way home, the 
olf his claim by torchlight in the wolves all the while howling about 
early morning hours of May first ot her pathway. It was a pleasure to 
ti^at year. He was accompanied by sit in the presence of the good old 
his brother, Silas. Mrs. Martin says mother and hear her talk in her en- 
the first years were very trying tirely unaffected way about those 
in many ways. They usually went primitive days in what is now 
to Bonaparte to mill. When Miss Spring Creek township. She said 
Hobbs was teaching the first she could not understand why a lov- 
schcol taught in the county she often ing Providence had kept her 
staid at the Martin home, especial- through so many hardships and 
ly during these long milling trips, dangers to see the quiet days of 
Ague was the scourge of the coun- these later years. She has been a 
try in the summer and early fall, widow twelve years and is now liv- 
ThoSe who were compelled to be ing quietly on a small farm with 
early and late in the fields were the her son Byron not far from the old 
worst sufferers. Mr. Martin was a home selected in the wilderness, 
great sufferer at a time when he felt There is a charm in a quiet, 
that he must be at work. He would peaceful life, whether it be in the 
go down on the prairie near Wright strength of matured years or In th'e 
to cut grass for the stock. Late in halo of a well preserved old age. 
the afternoon the hot fever would Like the waters that flow to the 
follow the chills, at which time ho sea, life is 'at first a fretful rivulet, 
would hardly be able to account for then a stately river, and lastly a 
himself, being so completely derang- quiet and broad sweeping tide until 
ed. He alwaj^ took the precaution, it is swallowed up in the unknown, 
however, to prepare for himself a In all of these Stages, when unaf- 
bed on which to lie until his con- fected and natural, is is most inter- 
sciousness returned. Mrs. Martin esting and beautiful. 



—16— 



Chapter Five 

Pioneer cMnuner of Life — Hunting, Amusements, 1)ress 

When a settler reached the end of board roof and a roughly built stick 
his long journey Ills first business chimney with a good big fireplace 
was to select his claim and locate was joy and undisturbed content- 
his residence. In the absence of sec- ment for years to come for the ear- 
tion lines he determined the points ly settler. Doors and windows were 
of the compass by the sun at noon not always immediately provided, 
and in the evening. So many 'steps A blanket often did good service in 
each way would measure three hun- guarding the door until they found 
dred and twenty acres more or less, time to split the timbers that when 
which answered all necessary pur- completed would swing on its wood- 
poses for securing a claim. It was en hinges and fasten with a latch 
always understood that in the right- made of seasoned hickory. As for 
ing of irregularities by the final sur- furniture, there was not room for 
vey each settler would be absolutely much, and it was quite easy to im« 
sure to receive the full amount of proviso tables ana chairs. Some- 
his claim. times the door was taken from its 

Having selected a location the hinges and used as a table on spe- 
most pressing business at hand was cial occasions, and when needed no 
to construct a temporary house for longer for that purpose, was lifted 
the protection of the family. The into its place again. In the earlier 
style was not a thing to be consider- days, after the cabin was enclosed 
ed. A shelter was the only thought and made comfortable, the deft 
in the minds of the first home build- hand of the good housewife was 
ers. We do not read of many dug- generaly equal to almost any emer- 
outs in Iowa, but thirty years ago the gency, and the father of the family 
writer visited many such homes on was left free to look after outside 
the prairies of Nebraska. Eren with affairs. How cheerful the old fash- 
dirt floors the average home was al- ioned fireplace always seemed, 
ways kept neat and clean. The har- with its huge back log and its 
dy settler usually had no means and crackling fire, the family sitting In 
but few appliances for nome build- a semi-circle aound its wide mouth, 
ing. He was quite content with a is a picture of contentment and un- 
cabin such as would afford shelter measured joy. No member of that 
and protection from the winter circle can ever forget the scene or 
storms and excessive weather. A get away from the influence of its 
one-room cabin fourteen or sixteen holy fellowship, 
feet square, with a bark or clap- The site for the home of the early 

-17— 



settler was usually on the edge of so mucli valuable time that it made 

the timber, near a spring or running the cost of breadstuffs extremely 

high, 

stream. The timber served as a Timber and prairie wolves were a 

protection from the storms of win- great menace to the early settler, 

ter and the excessive heat of sum- While it was quite true in a figura- 

m'er. Then the nearness to tne tim- tive sense that the pioneer had a 

^ , ^ . ,. . 14. hard time to "keep Vbe wolf 

ber afforded an immediate supply of ^^^ ^^.^ ^^^^„ .^ ^^ ^^^^^^^ 

fuel and logs for the cabin. Along ^^.^g ^^ ^ literal sense. As 
the 'edge of the timber, also, the sod the country became more settled 
was more ©asily broken than on the wolf hunts were organized to rid the 
prairie. A truck patch with the country of these pests. It is said 
larger portion of it in corn was all that as many as fifty have been kill- 
that could be done the first year, -ed in a day at one of these regular 
These were the trying years for the wolf hunts. 

early settlers. MJills were scarce There were times when it was 
and usually a distance of several impossible to obtain flour, and corn 
days' journey. In a number of in- bread was an acceptable substitute, 
stances in this county, we are toM, The ingenuity of the good mother 
that after a long wmter which caus- was often taxed to supplement the 
ed the scanty food supply to run supply of wild game. Corn was of- 
very low, it required the time of one ten ground on hand mills or a home 
member of the family during the made grater and sifted through a 
spring months to be on the road to piece of dressed de'er skin which 
and from the mill, which was often had been perforated by a hot wire 
sixty to seventy-five miles distant, or sharpened nail. Bread made from 
The trip was often made on horse- this contained all tne healthful in- 
back, as there were no ferrys, and gredients of the grain and could not 
the swollen streams had to be cross- fail to be sweet and nutritious, 
ed in a canoe or raft and the horse This is no imaginative descrip- 
or oxen would swim. In making tion of the diflaculties to be over- 
these long and difficult trips the pi- come in settling the soil of Iowa and 
one'er would camp at night on or Mahaska county. Th'ere are persons 
near the prairie, where his teams yet living who participated in these 
could feed on the grass. After a hardships. 

week or more of exposure and toil The necessities of life were not 
some travel, he would be disheart- large during those first years. They 
ened to learn on arriving at the mill had not et learned the lesson of ex- 
thathis turn would come in a week, travagance. Many a happy meal 
He was lucky if he found a job to was eaten of corn bread and meat, 
pay expenses while waiting. "When prepared under the most humble 
his turn came he was expected to be circumstances by the cheerful and 
promptly on hand to claim it, or constant wife. No destitution was 
another would take hte place. HiB ever permitted in any neighborhood, 
grinding finally ready, he was de- What one had all were free to use 
lighted to turn his face homeward while it lasted. The last pound of 
and meet the dangers of the return meat or peck of meal was generous- 
trip. These milling trips occupied ly divided with a needy neighbor. 

-18- 



There was no seifistnees. A cordial young people. A house-raising, 
and generous life made all the adys of whict was always regarded great 
the year happy days. The hrst S'et- fun, would furnish a stimulus and 
tiers who came into this country excitement for a neighborhood few 
thought themselves rortunate to get weeks previous and after the event, 
mail from their friends once in three The first cabins were built with 
or six months. After the days of the logs just as they came from the 
post offices all news was several forests, round, with the bark on. 
months old before it reached its des- A little later it was accounted an in- 
tination. The postal authorities at dication of good taste to chip off 
that time allowed excess of postage two sides of each log. Then cam'o 
to be paid by the person to whom the more elegant home made of 
the letter was addressed. Judge hewed logs, presenting a flat surfaco 
Seevers used to tell of a young pi- both inside and out. A good deal 
oneer who was unable to raise the of preparation was necessary on the 
twenty-five cents back postage for part of the host to have all in readi- 
the want of which he was not per- ness for a house-raising. The tim- 
mitted to lift the letter from the of- bers must all be prepared in proper 
fice. He made periodical trips to lengths, then cut and notched and 
the office to have the satisfaction of ready to be laid in place. Men who 
inspecting it until such time as he were especially skillful with an axe 
could raise the price which enabled were placed on the corners of the 
him to secure it. building to clip out just the right 

The perils and suffering to be sized chip to allow the log to make 
encountered by the pioneers did not a close fit. 

prevent them from Deing a cheerful Horse racing, foot racing and 
and light hearted people. FrolicB shooting matches were popular 
were frequent. Whenever anything amusements. At these gatherings 
was to be done requiring more help there were almost always tests of 
than the family could supply a day physical strength in some form and 
in the future was selected on which sometimes vicious fights were pre- 
to make a frolic. These occasions cipitated by an imagined insult or 
were widely advertised, ana every- some boastful spirit whose superfiu- 
body was made welcome, and as a ous vitality was chaffing to demon- 
rule the whole neighborhood plan- strate that he was the best man in 
ned their work to attend the gather- the crowd. He usually got what 
ed their work to attend the gather- boasters deserve, a gooa "licking," 
ing. House-raising, log-rolling, from which time he ceased to be the 

wood-chopping and the like for men, champion of the neighborhood. A 
and quilting and sewing for the too free use of liquor g'enerally 
women. On these occasions ample brought on these pernicious con- 
preparations were made to enter- tests. Most of these festivities 
tain the crowd with plenty of food wound up with dancing, which was 
and drink. With joking and a gen- always a favorite diversion with the 
eral merry-making time the work early settlers. 

went on until the allotted task was There was but little attention paid 
don<e. In the evening the fun-making to style in dress. During the first 
began in earnest and continued far years the garments they brought 
into the night, especially among the with them were made to go as far 

-19— 



as possible. A coon sKin or a wolf and the women wore knit hoods and 
skin cap was counted a luxury. The fabrics of their own weaving until 
skin of the deer, known as "buck- the general store came Into the set- 
skin," was used by the men for the tiement. 
blouse, pantaloons and moccafilDA, 



-20- 



Chapter Six 

Cla.im Associations — Their La.<ws — The Major's Case 

Tlie earliest claims to the land ment. The number of acres of land 
west of the Mississippi rivier were allowed to any one settler vuried in 
made by the fearless pioneer fii.m the different communities from one 
ers, or squatters. They had no hundred and sixty to four hundrea 
titles or patents to the soil they oc- and eighty acres. Boundaries to 
cupied, no legal rights, and hen^s no these claims were designated uy sec- 
protection by the United States gov- tion and township lines if the gov- 
ernment. In many cases th'ey were ernment survey had been complet- 
there because they had dared to vio- ed, otherwise, by stakes, blazed 
late an act of congress prohibiting trees, streams,hills and rocks, 
settlers from trespassing on the pub- The settlers continued to improve 
lie domain. Even for many years these claims until the date set by 
after the lands were open for settle, the government for the sale of the 
ment the pioneers were a law unto land . In the meantime all claims 
themselves. Because of this condl- were recorded and marked off on a 
tion there developed i system of map of the township. On th'e day 
popular government pe'juliar to the of sale this map was placed in the 
frontier communities of the west, hands of a "bidder" chosen by the 
It was known as the Claim Associ- association for the entire commun- 
ation, or Land Club. iF3acn commun ity. As the auctioneer called the 
ity had its own land association, the claims of the members of the assocl- 
object of which was ("lie protection ation he would bid one dollar and 
of the actual settlers In their rights twenty-five cents per acre which 
against speculators and "land graft- was the minimum price. As no one 
ers." Cases of dispute arising be- dared to bid against an original 
tween members of an association claimant, the land was invariably 
were settled by a Claim Committee bought at that price. If an outsider 
and from their decision there was rxi> was courageous 'enough to put 'n a 
appeal. The laws of these associa- counter bid he was roughly handlea 
tions were the outgrowth of the at once and compelled to withdraw 
strongest sense of jutice and equity his bid or risk his life In the hanus 
in the community ana an intentional of the members of the claim associ- 
violation of these laws was punish- tion, who were all there ready to 
ed by the strongest public condem- deal swift retribution to the intrud- 
nation. Sometimes tar and fea- er on their frontier rights. At home 
thers and the lash were resorted to as well as at the public sale, no one 
in order to emphasize the chastise- ventured to raise their voice against 

-21— 



fhe law of tte claim association, it more mil'es from the place of dla- 
was the best protection the country pute. With the embarasislng meth- 
afforded and the supreme rule of ods of travel, causing long delays, 
the community for which it was ere- the claim associations were almost 
ated. New comers were practically a necessity. 

compelled to respect its regulations. The following well worded docu- 
Robert Lucas, Iowa's first governor, ment, which forms the basis of 
subscribed to the constitution of such these settlers' clubs, will doubtless 
an organization in Johnson county, be of interest to this more favored 
where he had purchased a claim. generation: 

Mahaska copnty had several of "Whereas, it has become a custom 
these pioneer organization and they in the western states, as soon as the 
were thoroughly effective in always Indian title to the public lands has 
bringing equity and justice to the been extinguished by the general 
bona fide settler. government for the citizens of the 

A distinguished citizen, who was United States to settle on and im- 
one of the pioneers of that period, prove said lands, and hereofore the 
said in later years: improvement and claims of the set- 

"The law never did and never will tier to the extent of three hundred 
protect the people in all their rights and twenty acres has been respected 
so fully as the early settlers pro- both by the citizens and laws of 
tected themselves by tneir claim or- Iowa, 
ganizations." "Resolved, That we will protect 

We are told that these claim laws all citizens on the public lands in th'e 
had their origin in Jefferson county, peaceable possession of their claims 
Although they were not legally en- to the extent of three hundred and 
acted, they were in a certain sense twenty acres for two years after the 
sanctioned by the territorial legis- land sales and longer if necessary, 
lature, in 1839. They were "founded "Resolved, That if any person or 
upon the theory that a majority oi persons shall enter the claim of any 
the people had the right to protect settler that he or they shall imme- 
their property by a,greelng to such diately deed it back again to said 
regulations as they deemv^d neces- settler and wait three years with- 
sary to accomplish that object." out interest. 

The officers consisted of a presi- "Resolved, That if he refuse to 
dent, vice-president, a recorder of comply with the above requisition, 
claims, seven judges — whose duty it he shall be subject to such punish- 
was, to adjust all boundaries in dls- ment as the settlers se'e fit toinflict. 
pute — and two marnalls. One of ment as the settlers see fit to inflict 
the judges was an officer who was "Resolved, That we will remove 
authorized to administer oaths. Each any person or persons who may en- 
member of the association was re- ter the claim of any settler and set- 
quired to make fifty dollars' worth tie upon it, peaceably, if we can, for- 
of improvements on his claim with- cibly, if we must, even if their re- 
in six months after filing it, and im- moval sihould lead to bloodshed, be- 
provements to the value of that ing compelled to do so for our own 
amount each six months thereafter, common safety, that we may not be 

In those frontier days courts were driven by ruthless speculators irom 
many miles away, sometimes fifty or our firesides and homes. 

—22— 



"Resolvied, That a committee of sereral brothers and two sisters "had 

five be appointed to settle all diffi- all settled and entered land in that 

culties that may arise. community. It was afterwards call- 

"Resolved, That any settler who 'ed the Majors Settlement, 

may have sign'ed these by-laws, and After Mr. Majors had "entered lana 

refuses to do service when called up- for himself and his friends at the 

on by the proper officer, and with- land' sales in 1848, he also entered 

out reasonable excu'se, shall be fin- claims belonging to John Gillaspy, 

ed th'e sum of ten dollars, to be divid- Jacob Miller and Peter Parsons. ±ie 

ed among tbose who may have ren- claimed he did not know be was en- 

dered th'e service necessary." tering som'e one else's land but af- 

These resolutions sound like busi- ter making ttie discovery be failed 
ness, and in quite a number of cases to restore it to the proper owners, 
in this county, the associations had A meeting of the club was called 
some interesting business on their and his action denounced. Majors 
hands. A speculator from Iowa City was inflexible. A delegation, includ- 
who had entered and purchased a ingtlfe neigEboring clubs, visited the 
claim of a settler in the eastern part Majors home and found him in Os- 
of tbe county, was visited by a com- kalbosa. Messengers were sent af- 
mittee of five members and when he ter him but "he declined to return, 
showed no disposition to deed back A crowd st'aid about the bom'e until 
the land, was brought to Mahaska the next morniing, when some ot 
county. On his steadily refusing to his outbuildings were burned and a 
obey the laws of the claim associa- number of hogs killed. On hearing 
tion. Tie was taken to the Skunk of the destructfon of his property, 
river, bound and tied to prevent his Majors agreed to make restitution, 
swimming and thrown into the wa- but in a few days changed his mind 
ter with a rope attached to his body, and determined to prosecute t"he 
This was repeated three times, be- leaders of the mob and vigorously be- 
ing allowed to remain a little longer gan by securing warrants for fheir 
each time. On being informed that arrest. The general public senti- 
if another plunge was needed it ment was against him and he made 
would be the last one, he concludea no headway in his prosecutions, 
to give up the land and stay a while Peter Parsons had been arrested and 
longer. He complied with by-law his trial was set for Monday morn- 
Number Two and received back the ing. Sentiment warmed into indig- 
amount he had paid for the claim, nation, and a mass meeting -was 
less the expenses made necessary in called at Durham's Ford on Sunday 
adjudicating the" case and the liquor morning previous to the trial of Par- 
which had been consumed by the sons. Some five hundred men gath- 
crowd during the chastisement. ered here and remained until Mon- 

The action of th'e club was often day morning, when they hoisted the 

necessary in settling disputes or flag, and led by martial music, this 

greater or less magnitude between young army took up its march to 

claimants. Oskaloosa, armed with such equip- 

The case which became most noted ments as the coutry afforded, and 

in the county was that of Jacob H. incluamg members of the clubs 

Majors, who s'ettled in Scott town- from Marion and Jasper counties, 

ship in 1844. A widowed mother, The main body were on horseback, 

—23— 



but the excitement and interest was ment of that promis'©. The crowd 
widely spread, and a goodly number returned home and Majors made the 
were on foot. They were met out on deeds. 

the Pella roa"a by a delegation of Os- In the face of all this widespread 
kaloosa citizenp, and halted for a indignation the incorrigible MajoriJ 
parley, butcould not be pe^uaded to began again to prosecute his neigh- 
disband. borS who had been active against 
Coming on into town they stacked him. Although he carried his gun 
their arms under guard and formed wherever he went, by a well laid 
in military order in *the public plan the club committee overpower- 
square. Parsons was released and ed him, bound him and took him to 
his trial postponed without date. A Knoxville, where he was treated to 
public meeting was called and the a double coat of tar and feathers, 
forenoon was spent in discussing the The persecution on both sides was 
situation from both sides. Majors kept up until Majors abandoned the 
had been secreted in a room on the contest, sold his realty in Scott 
south side of the square, but with- township and moved into Missouri, 
in hearing distance of the speakers. It perhaps should be stated here 
We are told that Judge Seevers that the ..ajors family were highly 
made a proposition that if th'e com- esteemed people andtheir old neigh- 
pany would disband that Majors bors alwaj's speak of tnem as indus- 
would be required to deed back the trious and friendly people. The 
land to the rightful owners. To this gentleman simply made the mistake 
the army consented and Van Delash- of his life in resisting the just 
mutt became security for the fulfill- claims of the claim association. 



-24- 



Chapter S^en 

Chief cMahaska., cMost Noted of the lotvas 

Our county bears tlie name of the pedition as a common soldier. He 
most noted chief of the Iowa Indi- therefore conferred the leadership 
ans, who at one time neld dominion upon a distinguished and tried war- 
over a large part of th'e state of rior until he should have opportun- 
lowa. He was the son of Manhaw- ity to prove hims'elf worthy of as- 
gaw, under whose leadership the suming command of his tribe. The 
tribe migrated westward from the re- expedition into the Sioux country 
gion of the Great Lakes. They was most successiu., as savages mea- 
crossed the Mississippi river and sure success, and young Mahaska 
made their home on the banlvS of brought home a bunch of scalps 
the Iowa river near its mouth, and that left no doubt as to his ability 
gave their name to the stream. An and bravery as a lead'er. We are 
Indian legend cited by T. S. Parvin, told that h'e was in 18 battles against 
who is excellent authority, says: numerous bands of Indians and was 
"This tribe separated from the Sacs never defeated. On his return from 
and Fox'es and wandered off west- an expeditrbn against the Osag^es on 
ward in search of a new home, the north 'bank of the Missouri river 
Crossing the Mississippi, river they he married four wives. It was a 
turned southward, reaching a high custom in his tribe when husbands 
bluff near th© mouth of the Iowa or brothers fell in battle for the sur- 
river. Looking off over the b'eauti- viving warriors to adopt their wives 
ful valley spread out b'efore them, or sisters. The young chief found 
they halted, exclaiming, 'loway', or on his return that four sisters had 
'This is the place.* " Their wander- been deprived of their protectors, 
ing in the years that followed reach- all of whom he married. One of the 
ed as far west as the Dakotas. youngest of these was Rant-che-wai- 

They were in continual warfare me, or th'e Female Flying Pigeon, 
with the Sioux, Osages and other who during all her lite was his fa- 
western tribes. In a conference vorite wife. 

with the Sioux Indians Man-haw- In another foray against the same 
gaw was treacherously slain. The tribe, after his warriors had dealt 
indignant lowas resolved on an im- the eneniy a severe blow, h'e receiv- 
mediate revenge. They rais'ed a ed a rifle ball in his leg. Bleeding 
war party, of which the son, Mahas- profusely, he was easily tracked by 
ka, was the legitimate chief. He his enemies, and sought a hiding 
modestly declined the honor, stating place where he might rest and recu- 
that he wished to accompany the ex- perate. This he found under a 

—25— 



large log that lay across a water- venged the death of my father; my 
cours'e. Guided by the trail of heart is at rest. I will go to war 
blood that flowed from his wound, no more. I told Mansliuchess, 
the O'sages followed him to tb» (meaning General Clark) when I was 
stream where they lost his trail, for in St. Louis that I would take his 
Mahaska had taken the precaution to peace talk. My word is out. I will 
step into the water some distance be- fight no more." 

low the log, they supposing that he Mahaska in our language means 
had crossed fhe stream at the place White Cloud. His home was near 
where he entered. He remained un- where the city of Bldon now stands, 
der the log with just so much of "his at tlie old town of lowavihe. He 
face out of the water as enabled him was always the friend of the Am'eri- 
to breatti'e. He had succeeded in cans and always rejoiced in the re- 
completely throwing his pursuers flection that he never tad shea 
off his trail. When the still- American blood. 

ness of night had settlea aown In 1824 Mahaska accompanied a 
upon all nature and notbing could oe select party of warrior chiefs to 
heard but the tinkling of the bells on Washington to have an interview 
the Indian horses as they fed in the witli Pesident Monroe. They went 
valley, Mahaska crept out of his "hid- by the Mississippi and Ohio rivers 
ing place, caught one of the best to Wh'eeling, Va., and thence by 
horses, and mounting it made off to- stage to the national capital. A 
ward the north to join his tribe, "talk" was had with the president, 
whose home was then on the Des Mahaska was presented with a mea- 
Moines river. al and a treaty was concluded be- 

Arriving at the Missouri river, he tween the United States and the 
tied one end of the halter around Iowa tribe. The treaty granted cer- 
the horse's neck and the other he tain conces'sions to the United 
took in his teeth.. Then driving the States for a satisfactory considera- 
horae into the flowing stream, he tion. Provisions were made for sup- 
compelled the animal to supplem'ent plieis of blankets, farming utensils 
his own strength as a swimmer and and cattle, and assistants in taking 
was safely carried across. up agricultural pursuits. The condi- 

This was the Indian mode of meet- tions also stipulated that an annual 
ing such difficulties. Through all payment of five hundred dollars 
these vicissitudes he clung to his gun should be made to his tribe for ten 
and the three scalps which he had years, 
taken in the battle.. Mahaska's favorite wife, Rant-che- 

When he arrived home he was joy- waime, had accompanied him to 
fully received by his people, and or- Washington. One evening on com- 
dered the war dance. Being unable, ing to their hotel after having In- 
on account of his wound, to lead the dulged freely in the use of firewater, 
dance himself, he conferred that through the day, the agent in charge 
honor upon Big Axe, one of his trus- of the company heard a racket in 
ty braves. As Mahaska placed the the room and hastened to the door, 
scalps In his hands he made it the He found that thechief was settling 
occasion for an address which mark- an imaginary difficulty with his 
ed an epoch in his history. These faithful wife. On hearing his ap- 
were his words: "I have now re- proach, Mahaska, not caring to meet 

-26- 



him just at thai time, lifted the win- defenseless village and murder Its 
dow sash and stepped out, forgetting remaining denizens. Just at a time 
that he was lodging in the second when the excitement was the high- 
story. The fall broke his arm, huie est and all attention was given to 
so accustomed was he to such trifles the two competitors in the race, the 
that he insisted on riding out two savage Sacs and Foxes swept down 
miles the next day to see a cannon upon the unsuspecting and terrorized 
cast. assembly with their piercing war 

While in Washington he sat for a whoop. The Iowa warriors rush- 

portrait to Mr. King, and we know 'ed back to their village to find it 
something of the form and features in flames and their wives and chil- 
of the noted chief. Mahaska was dren falling beneath tSe blows of 
six feet two inches in height, pos- the tomahawk and war club or 
sessed uncommon strength ana young Black Hawk's band. Their 
activity and was a man of perfect confusion and dismay prevented 
symmetry o^. person and unusually them from securing their arms, but 
handsome. He returned to his home they fought in desperation with 
from the east a man of peace, clubs and stones, only to be massa- 
WYiat he had seen and heard made cred until there was left but a remnant 
a deep impression on his mind. He of a brave and powerful tribe. As 
took the advice of the Great Father, further resistance was utterly hope- 
the president, and built himself a less, those who remainea after the 
double log house, lived in greater awful slaughter surrendered. Their 
comfort, and began in earnest to power was gone. Their national 
cultivate his land. spirit had received a blow from 

The lowas and Sacs and Foxes which it never could recover. They 
were deadly enemies. The last bat- lingered for a time about their old 
tie between these tribes was fought haunts but were hopeless and d'e- 
on the Des Moines river near the spondent. They were no longer an 
town of lowaville in 1824. The en- independent people and wandered 
tire force of the Iowa tribe had about over the domain which was 
gathered on the river bottom, about at one time their own land, and 
two miles from their village to wit- which will forever perpetuate their 
ness a horse race, with no thougnt proud name. 

of any imminent danger. They had When Mahaska was fifty years old 
gone out to enjoy the excitement of he was foully murdered while asleep 
the occasion and were entirely un- in his tepee on the Nodaway river, 
armed. The Sacs and Foxes had The deM was committed by one of 
been watching for just sucn an op- his own band, whom Mahaska had 
portunity to deal a crushing blow to caused to be arrested and placed in 
their enemies. Their spies reported prison at Fort Leavenworth for go 
this gathering to their chief, Fasti- ing on the war path against the 
e-pa-ho, who with his warriors were Omahas. The prisoner felt the dis- 
secreted in the forest near by. grace so keenly that he determined 

Pash-e-pa-ho led two tiivisions to to take revenge on his chief. 
make the unexpected attack, while Mahaska, the second son of fhe 
Black Hawk, then a young man un- great Mahaska, succeeued his father 
known to fame, commandea a third and became the ruling chief. He 
division, which was to burn the de- was a quarrelsome and drunken fel- 

—27— 



low, inheriting none of the ability ing creatures except a few who es- 

and genius of his father. In 1838 caped in a great canoe. The lowas 

the lowas sold their interest in were divided into eight clans. Each 

Iowa lands to the United States for clan had its own name and had its 

$157,000, which was kept as a trust own peculiar methods of cutting and 

fund; the interest at fivB per cent, wearing the hair. 

to be paid annually to the tribe. r r^ 4. -u -.on-. a.i. r. o 

mt. X J , IT. , X. -..r- In October, 1891, the lowas had 

They accepted lands beyond th'e Mis- ^ ^ ' ""'•-/= " . .„ " 

souri river and became in some d* made such progress toward civiliaad 

gree civilized. ^'^f J^^^ ^^f -^^^ J^^, /'''. 

During the civil war the lowas relations and accepted lands in sev- 

eraltv 

were loyal to the union. Many of •'' 

them 'enlisted in the army, making In the journal left by LewiS' and 

good soldiers. Clarke in their expedition up th'e 

This tribe, in common with most Missouri river in 1804, they refer to 

of the Indian tribes in America, this tribe of Indians as the "Ayou- 

were worshipper's of the Great Spir- ways." In the years' that followed 

it, whom they believed was the ere- the orthography was changed to 

ator and ruler of th'e universe. "loway"; later the "y" was dropped 

They had a tradition that a long and we have the smooth sounding 

time ago a month's rain came upon and beautiful word, "Iowa," with the 

th© earth and drowned all liv- accent on the first syllabie 



-28- 



Chapter Eight 

Organization of Ma.ha.ska. County 

By an act of the legislature of the continued to serre as clerk of the 
Territory of Iowa, February 5, 1844, court until 1854. He also served two 
provision was made for the organiza- terms in the state legislature and 
tion of the counties of Keokuk and filled other important offices in the 
Mahaska. This act provided thattlie county. 

inhabitants of all territory ranging Wm. Edmundson, the first sheriff 
north and west from the last organ- of the county, served from 1844 to 
iz'ed county should be under the juris- 1850. He was also elected to that of- 
diction of said county for all judicial fice in 1856 to fill a vacancy, serving 
and other legal purposes. For this until 1859. He was a good executive 
reason Mahaska county records show officer. The first 'sheriff of Mahaska 
that its county commissioners con- county had quite an interesting 'ex- 
trolled the scattered inhabitants of perience in the pioneer life of the 
the territory as far west and includ- west. Born in Harrison county, Ken- 
ing that on which the city of Des tucky, on Oct. 7, 1805, where he 
Moines is now located. Mahaska spent his boyhood and received a 
county territory was a part of the good common school education. At 
original Des Moines county. "William twenty-two years of age he went with 
Edmundson was appointed sheriff, his father's family to Putnam county, 
and Micajah T. Williams was appoint- Indiana. From that state in 1832 he 
ed clerk. Upon these two officials, enlisted in the Black Hawk war. His 
according to law, devolved the duty company reached the frontier, but 
of perfecting the organization. As were not actively engaged, as tne war 
there was no official in the commun- was of short duration. He made a 
ity authorized to administer oath's^ trip to New Orleans with a boat load 
William Edmundson was also appoint- of provisions and was in Texas at the 
ed justice of the peace by Governoi time it was passing through its rev- 
Chambers, March 10, 1844. olution. After his father's death in 

M. T. Williams was a young attor- 1836 the entire family nioved to Des 
ney wlio had recently come into the Moines county, Iowa, where he en- 
new community from Mount Pleas- gaged in farming. While here he 
ant. The writer knew him as an ac- served for several years as justice 
curate, painstaking and reliable bus- of the peace and one year on the 
iness man. No selection could have board of county commissioniers. 
been more fortunate than Mr. Wil- These experiences were valuabl'e to 
liams for the task or making accu- him in view of his subsequent histo- 
rate records for the new county. He ry. In 1843 Mr. Edmundson came to 

-29- 



the New Purchase, locating on a was held at tlie home of Poultney 

claim near Six Mile. While tnere lie Loughridge. 

received appointment as sheriff, and Jefferson — A. C. Sharp, Allen Lowe, 

also as justice of the peace. He rep- Thomas Long, Thomas Stanley and 

resented this county In the state Teg- John Long. 

islature during the sessions of 1847- White Oak — Jolin N. Butler, Henry 

8. In 1850 he went with a company Bond, Pleasant Parker, B. Stone and 

of emigrants to California, where he Jacob Hunter. 

remained until 1855, since which time Six Mile Prairie — G. G. Rose, Thom- 

his home continued to be at Oska- as Wilson, Wesley Freel, vVm. Bas 

loosa, until the time of his death in sett and John Patcher. 

1862. Monroe — Jotin Hollingsworth, Isaac 

These two gentlemen had no easy Bedwell, M. P. Crowder, Robert 
task before them. Their first duty Ritchey and George Bailey, 
was to divide the new county into Red Rock — William E. James, Sam- 
election precincts. There was no uel Geddis, Argus A. Martin, John M. 
map or outline of the county. Indian Mikesell and John Jordan, 
trails were the only nighways. No Jackson (now ScottJ^ — Jacob H. Ma- 
bridges or well known fords in the jors, Highland and Hezekiah 

rivers. It sometimes required hours Gay. 

of search to find a settler's cabin "Wliite Breast — J. B. Hamilton, Al- 

hidden away in some sheltering bert Vertreese, Blias Elder, Osee 

grove. Having divided the county Matthews and Green T. Clark. 

and its adjacent western territory in- Red Rock and White Breast are 

to election precincts, they called to now parts of Marion county. 

their assistance Jo'hn W. Jones and The election returns showed the 

Wm. A. Delashmutt to aid them in following oflicers to have been chos- 

finding and appointing a sufiBcient en: John White, probate judge; Wm. 

number of election officers for hold- Edmundson, sheriff; Wm. Pilgrim, 

ing the first election, which took recorder; Wm. D. Canfield, treasurer; 

place on the first Monday in April, W. A. Delashmutt, assessor; Brittain 

1844. The elections were held at Edwards, coroner; A. S. Nichols, Wil 

some settler's cabin having a central son Stanley and Robert Curry, county 

location. Nine election precincts commissioners; David Stump, sur- 

were named, eac'h having a board of veyor; and John W. Cunningham, 

five members, except Jackson. Tney commissioner's clerk. 

were as follows: These gentlemen were sworn into 

Harrison — Brittain Edwards, John office shortly after their election and 

Newell, Jacob Hamilton, Ephraim constitute the first quorum of officers 

Munsell and Col. Vane©. wtiich appears on the records of the 

Spring Creek — Jonathan Williams, county. 

Isaac N. Seevers, D. Bowers, George The county commissioners met en 

W. Seevers and Wm. Pilgrim. May 14, 1844, and selected tlie first 

Dr. D. A. Hoffman has among his grand jury and petit jury. On the 

relics and curios the box used in ?-e same day the county was divided into 

ceiving the ballots at this first elec- twelve election precincts. For the 

tion in Spring Creek. The election want of a suitable seal the commis- 

—30— 



sioners selected the eagle side of a involved a conflict of claims. Ttie 
dime, which on July 17th was super- grand jury brought in four indict- 
ceded by substituting a twenty-five- ments. One for larceny, two for as- 
cent piece to be used as a temporary sault and one for selling liquor to the 
seal. Indians. In each of these indjict- 

The first court ever held in Ma- ments the United States was the 
haska county was in July, 1844, by prosecuting party. 
Joseph Williams, of Muscatine, who On July 28, 1845, the first natural- 
was judge in the second judicial dis- ization papers were granted by this 
trict of Iowa Territory. The court court. 

had jurisdiction in both federal and Judg'e Joseph Williams was quite 

local affairs and was supported by a noted character in his time. At 

the government. Its sessions were t'he time of his appearance in Mahas- 

held in a log house owned by Wm. D. ka county he was about fifty years of 

Canfield and located within the pres- age and had been on the bench as a 

ent city limits of Oskaloosa. The judge in the district courts of the 

building was unfinished, being witn- Territory of Iowa for a number of 

out a floor. By the use of some flour years. From what is said of him, 

barrels and loose boards a platform he seems to have had a goodreputa- 

and desk were improvised for the use tion as a jurist, but was very popu- 

of the judges. The other attendants lar as an entertainer. He was espe- 

at court fared as best they could, cially skillful in the use of musical 

Major Thompson was United States instruments, as well as being a good 

attorney. Other attorneys present singer and an entertaining lecturer, 

were W. W. Chapman, C. W- Slagle, He always had a faculty of making 

Geo. Atchison, Henry Templeton and the most of the rude surroundings of 

Jno. W. Alley. The last named gen- frontier life, which made him wel- 

tleman was from Red Rock. come wherever he went. 

There seems to have been but very We are told also that Judge Wil« 
little business before this court, but liams was a ventriloquist of peculiar 
they managed by frequent recesses power, and that he never failed to 
and adjournments to remain in ses- exercise his gifts on the uninitiated 
sion for one week. The grand jury when opportunity offered, 
held its sessions in the hollow a Micajah T. Williams, clerk of Ma- 
quarter of a mile north of the square, haska county, granted the first mar- 
hidden away in the tall prairie grass riag-e license on May 30, 1844, to S 
There were no accommodations for C. Nicholson and Eleanor May, and 
strangers except in the cabin homes the marriage ceremony was per- 
of the increasing population. As formed June 2nd by Levi Brain- 
these were always open to the way- l)ridge, a justice of the peace, 
farer, those in attendance at court The first bill of divorce found on 
sought lodging wherever it could be the county records bears the date of 
found. November 15, 1845, Rebecca Ash vs. 

The records show eight civil and Thomas Ash, in which the court 

four criminal cases on the docket, granted the petition. 

The jury case was an appeal by The first Mahaska county court 

James Hall vs. Joseph Koons, and house was built during the winter of 

—31- 



1844-45. The means were secured moved three blocks west on High 

from the sale of town lots, the law Avenue, where it was used for a 

requiring the proceeds of such sale time as a hotel. Later it was partly 

to be set apart for the purpose of destroyed by fire and gave place for 

building a court house and jail, buildings of a more substantial 

Mr. James Edgar had the contract character, 
for the erection of the building. It 

was a frame structure, 28x50 feet, We have no absolute census of 
two stories in height. A house rais- the county until 1850, when its pop- 
ing was advertised on a given day ulation is reported by the govern- 
and the timbers were put in place ment census to be 5,989. In 1860 
with a frontier frolic. It was built the census returns shov/ 22,508; 
on the northwest corner of the 1870, 25,202; 1880, 28,805; and in 
square, the lot now occupied by the 1900, 34,273. The latest Iowa re- 
Oskaloosa National Bank. j. tie sec- turns show an increase of 5,468 per- 
ond floor was used for offices. The sons since the enumeration of 1900. 
first floor was occupied by the This ma.lces our population at the 
county as a court room until 185b. close of 1904, 3^,741. It is quite 
It was also used for religious ser- probable that the chiTS is now llv- 
vices and other public gatherings, ing who will see Mahaska county 
In 1875 th building was sold and with twice its present population. 



—32- 



Chapter cHine 

Personal Recollections and Early 'Reminiscences 

For a dozen or more years after the age "h© declared that fever and ague 
period of settlement in 1843, great should not conquer him, and was 
emphasis was given to hunting both soon in the lead of the cavalcade, 
for sport and for profit. Quite a The pioneer who related this story to 
number of persons in different parts us also stated that the old hunter 
of the county kept a dozen or more thoroughly enjoyed the excitement 
hounds and other dogs for the chase, of the day and did not have a shuke 
The bounty on wolf scalps was the of the ague again that year, 
chief incentive for hunting that ani- 
mal. Wm. Frederick, Harry Wil- 

Hams, John Simms and Butler De- The Mormon trail was south of 
lashmut kept such a pack of dogs and Mahaska county, but quite a number 
trained horses to ride on hunting occa- of Mormons passed through, this 
sions. When theise hunters com- county on their slow march to the 
bined their forces for a special ef- mountains. They were usually sup- 
fort it furnished excitement and in- plied with ox teams for hauling their 
terest for whole neighborhoods for plunder and conveying the sick and 
daj^, both prior to and following the infirm. Many of them died and were 
event. It is related that on one ol buried in shallow and unmarked 
thes'e occasions when several hunt- graves by th'e wayside. They appre- 
ers had set a day to unite their forces ciated kind treatment, but were un- 
for a big hunt, Butler Delashmut was communicative. Occasionally they 
suffering with fever and ague so se- would hold meetings in the cabins of 
verely that he found it quite impossi- the settlers when permitted to do so. 
ble to join the company. The start Men, women and children went on 
was made not far from his home, foot. Sometimes a few individuals 
where the pack of hounds struck a pulled a cart or pushed a wheelbar- 
fresh wolf trail and their hideous mu- row. The single thought of reaching 
sic began. Mr. Delashmut heard it a promised land where they should 
and was thoroughly versed in its be unmolested in their religious 
meaning. The spirit of the chase views and practices, dominated the 
was too strong for him to remain in entire life. Mr. Mose Davis, of Har- 
bed and he arose in spite of the pro- rison township, relates that he was in 
tests of the family and hastened Council Bluffs early in the fifties ana 
down to the stable and saddled his saw the last detachment leave for the 
favorite steed who was chafing to west from their settl'ement just above 
join the fray. Summing his old cour- that city, on the opposite side of the 

—33- 



river. They formed a long serpen- wlien supplies in the neighborhood 
tine trail reaching away across the were low, her brother, John Lough- 
boundless prairie. Some of them had ridge, accompanied a Mr. Thompson 
wheelbarrows, some carts, but all to Burlington for milling and goods, 
were afoot, the larger number driving They had two ox teams. There was 
ox teams. They were seeking for a much rain that season and no bridges 
city whose builder and maker was as yet in the territory. The oxen swam 
Brigham Young and those who lived the streams and the wagons and 
through the hardships and drudgery their contents had to oe carried 
of the journey found it. over piece-meal. It was a most te- 
It is said that Keokuk with fifty of dious and perilous journey and only 
his braves with their squaws and dire necessity had prompted th'e 
papooses once visited Nauvoo to undertaking. Eighteen days had 
smoke their pipes of peace with passed without a word as to their 
his "broth'er," Joseph Smith. In re- welfare. The suspense Decame un- 
ply to his recitals of their great ex- bearable and her father determined 
pectations, the demoralized old chief- to take up their trail on horseback, 
tain said: "As for the new Jerusa- When h'e got as far east as Waugh's 
lem to which we are all going to em- Point, now Hedrick, some twenty 
igrate, so far as we are concerned, miles, to his great joy, he met them 
it depends very much on whether returning. They were almost as 
there would be any government an- empty handed as when they lett 
nuities, and as far as the 'milk and home. The high waters had pre- 
honey' which was to flow over the vented the mills from grinding and 
land, he was not particular — ^h'e bread stuffs were short. Mr. Lough- 
much preferred whiskey." ridge returned the same night to re- 
lieve the anxiety at home. 



Mrs. Emily J. Correll, who is a 



daughter of Poultney Loughridge, Steven Wharton, father of J. M. 
states that in the very early years Wharton came to Iowa from Illi- 
when mills were so very far away nois in March, 1846. The only va- 
and flour very scarce, Washing^ton cant cabin they could get was locat- 
Threldkill dug out a hard wood ed on West High Avenue about 
stump near his cabin so as to form three blocks from the square. It 
a kind of basin and fastenea an iron was without a chimney or floor ana 
wedge to the end of a stick, giving chinked but not daubed. A good 
it a handle, which he used as a fire was kept in the center of the 
pestle to crush shelled com. When room and the smoke allowed to es- 
the com was thoroughly beaten it cape through an opening directly 
was sifted and the fine portion used above. Mr. J. M. Wnarton recalls 
as meal, while the coarse particles the kindness of Mr. A. G. Phillips 
were worked up into hominy. This in making them welcome and in 
contrivance proved to be of much assisting them to become settled. 
value to the neighborhood and peo- He says that in that crude home his 
pie came in good numbers to use It, cheerful and patient mother made her 
taking their turn, just as they did family of nine rather comfortable, 
at the mill. At one time in 1844 doing all her cooking about the fire. 

-14- 



They only remained In Oskaloosa 
a few weeks, just long enough for 
the father to make a claim and 
build a cabin. 

Mr. Lafayette Brolliar of Keokuk 
county stated to the writer t'nat 
when his father's family came to 
Iowa in 1844 he found a broad swath 
cut through the tall prairie grass 
and brush, making the line across 
which settlers were not allowed to 
pass into the Indian territory until 
the period of the opening of the res- 
ervation. The line exrended north- 
ward from a point agreed upon, 
west of Fairfield, and was kept 
mewed out by government survey- 
ors. In a few instances this line 
was tampered with by the settlers 
in order to secure a good location 
for a house or mill site whicti could 
be recognized only when the Indi- 
ans gave their consent. 



In the days of the stage coach 
during the 50's and early 60's Oska- 
loosa was a quite important station 
on the routes north and westward. 
For several years there were no 
stages or regular conveyances Oj. 
any kind. A hack line ran to Fair- 
field. When the business grew Fink 
& Walker ran a 'stage twice a week 
to points down nearer to the river. 
Then came the Western Stage Com- 
pany. The unbridged streams and 
sloughs made staging a difficult 
task, but the profits were large and 
the company became wealthy. The 
time between Oskaloosa and the 
river was from one to two (lays. 
When the roads were good passen- 
gers could leave Oskaloosa in the 
evening and take breakfast in Des 
Moines. 

There was a line of stages running 



up the river from KeoKuk througn 
Oskaloosa to Des Moines and from 
this point also directly north to 
Marshalltown. Another line left 
Washington and followed the divide 
westward, crossing the north and 
south line at Oskaloosa and going 
on to Knoxville and the west. The 
stage barns of the Western Stage 
Company stood where the Young 
Men's Christian Association building 
now stands and the residence of the 
manager and agent of the company, 
Richard Lonsberry was just across 
the street south. The old stage 
coaches came and went in those 
days with stately dignity and pre- 
cision. A faithful stage driver felt 
the responsibility of his charge as 
much as the modern conductor of 
a passenger train, and he ranked 
with that unselfish class of public 
servants. Occasionally a faithful 
stage driver went out with his pre- 
cious load of passengers and U. S. 
mail never to return. Settlements 
were scarce and the long drives in 
the bitter cold weather were too 
much for even the hardiest natures. 
Public anxiety and sympathy was 
always keenly alive for the welfare 
of these heroic men in times of 
peril. A belated stage was often 
cheered as it wheeled up to the old 
Madison House. The driver always 
alighted with his passengers and 
passed his lines into the hands of 
the hostler, taking them again when 
he stepped up into his airy seat for 
a fresh start. Horses were changed 
every ten or fifteen miles when pos- 
sible and were driven on the gallop 
between stations when the road per- 
mitted. 



During the four years following 



-35- 



1848 long lines of teams of Califor- venturers became stranded and re- 
nia gold hunters could be seen on mained in Iowa. Otbers made tlie 
the main roads leading westward long journey, spent their substance 
across Iowa. They had large, strong and came back to Iowa to make a 
wagons mostly drawn by oxen, be- home. No person could cross Iowa 
cause cattle could subsist on the without being impressed with its 
grass on the way, while horses re- great possibilities as a great corn- 
quired grain. Scores of Mahaska monwealth. 

county people joined the thousands 

from the eastern states to try their 

fortunes in the search for gold on Driving stock to market in the 
the Pacific slope. These voyageurs fall and winter was a task of the 
furnished a good home market for early stockman or "drover" as he 
the surplus hay and corn of the set- was called. The prices ranged from 
tiers, in the early spring before the one dollar and a half per oundred 
grass was of sufficient length to sup- in the early years to three dollars per 
ply feed to the slowly moving cara- hundred just before the coming of 
vans. Richard Parker, who lived on the railroads. Stock from this see- 
the old stage road southeast of Oska- tion was driven to Keokuk or Bur- 
loosa told the writer mat during lington. Buyers would select twenty 
the spring months in those years or more trusty young men for a large 
his cabin was the center of a verita- drove and gather their stock togeth- 
ble camp of travelers and that he er for the long, tedious march. Lewis 
cleared enough money to pay for a Cruzen made three trips to the for- 
good farm. Several of the trains mer place with large droves of hogs, 
were fitted out in Oskaloosa and They traveled very slowly, making 
many of them carried quite a sur- from three to six miles a day. The 
plus of goods which they sold in the last trip made after the holidays in 
mountains and bordering the coast 1857, there were one thousand and 
country at their own prices. One of forty hogs in the drove. These young 
these forty-niners told the writer men received for their services fifty 
that he received over three hundred cents a day and no dinner on the 
dollars as his share of such profits outgoing trip, and were allowed sev- 
en goods sold in the region of Salt enty-five cents a day with dinner and 
Lake City. It is difficult to tell pay for four days' march on the 
whether the county lost or gained home trip, which was generally made 
in population by this general hegira if the weather was good, in two and 
across the plains. Many eastern ad- a half or three days. 



-36- 



Chapter Ten 



Early Oskatoosa. — County Seat Contest — Other Facts Leading Up to the 
Date of Incorporation as a City 



The act of the legislature author- 
izing the organization of Mahaska 
county, appointed thre'e impartial 
Oommi'ssioners from outside of its 
territory to visit the new county in 
the spring of 1844 and decide the 
question of locating the county seat. 

This court was composed of Jesse 
Williams, of Johnson county, Eben- 
'ezer Perkins, of Washington county, 
and Thomas Henderson, of Keokuk 
county. These g'entlemen were each 
paid at the rate of two dollars per 
day for their services. Three loca- 
tions claimed ihe attention of the 
commissioners. 

First, the geographical center of 
the county, about two and one-half 
miles north of Oskaloosa. It was 
rather an inviting location, only a lit- 
tle north of the ridge marking the di- 
vide between the Des Moines and the 
Skunk rivers. 

Second, Auburn,a village which had 
been laid out at the head of Six Mile 
bottom,which extenus six miles along 
the river, some miles beyond where 
Beacon is now located. This village 
had been platted a short time before 
in hope of securing the county seat. 
The advocates of this site were firm 
in the belief that the lack of timber 
on the open prairies would prevent 
them from being settled for several 
generations and that this location 



near the river which was then the 
only higliway of the county would be 
the center of population in the 
county. 

Third, The Narrows, meaning the 
narrowest point in the ridge forming 
the watershed between the two riv- 
ers. 'Ihe timber from each stream 
almost joined at this point and left 
only this elevated ridge uniting the 
two prairies, one southeast and the 
other northwest. Before the prairies 
were settled the traveler could see 
this high ridge for fifteen or twenty 
miles. This was a great highway of 
travel between the Mississippi river 
and Fort Des Moines and on to th'e 
far west. General Fremont came 
over this route some time in the later 
forties, when making one of his trans- 
continental tours. There was at that 
time two cabins within the limits of 
the original city piat. One was the 
residence of Perry Grossman and 
wife and Mrs. Grossman's mother, 
Mrs. Jones, with her two sons, 
George W. and John W. Jones, and 
daughter Sarah, now Mrs. McWil- 
liams, who is still a resident of Oska- 
loosa. The commissioners were en- 
tertained at the Grossman-Jones 
home and when they had carefully ex- 
amined the three places desiring the 
county seat they returned to this 
cabin to compare notes and announce 



-57— 



tneir decision. This decision bears 
date of May 11, 1844, a copy of whicli 
is as follows: 

"Territory of Iowa, Mahaska Coun- 
ty, May 11, 1844. 

"The undersigned, commissionvs-r's 
appointed by the thirteenth section 
of an act entitled, 'An Act to Organ- 
ize fhe Counties of Keokuk and Ma- 
haska,' after being duly qualified 
agreeable to the provisions of said 
Act, have come unanimously to the 
conclusion to locate the county seat 
of said county, and do hereby locate 
said county seat on the southeast 
quarter of section thirteen (13), in 
townstip seventy-five (75) of range 
sixteen (16). 

"Jesse WJilliams. 

"Thomas Henderson. 

"Ebetnjezer Perkins." 

The beautiful name of the seat of 
justice of Mahaska county was orig- 
inally spelled Ouskaloosa. The name 
is associated in Indian history with 
a Creek princess. The Seminoles had 
made war upon the Creeks and de- 
stroyed their entire body of warriors 
and taken captive their families. 
Among ttiese prisoners was an at- 
tractive and beautiful princess who 
finally became the wife of Osceola, a 
chief of the Seminoles, and he gave 
her the name of Ouskaloosa, meaning 
"The Last of the Beautiful." 

The three commissioners recom- 
mended the name Ouskaloosa for the 
new county seat. But owing to a dif- 
ference of opinion on the part of the 
citizens of the county, they left the 
name of the new town to be 'settled 
by the county commissioners. Quite 
a number of persons preferred the 
name Mahaska for the proposed town. 
The county commissioners were A. 
S. Nichols, Robert Curry and Wilson 



Stanley. At their first meeting. May 
14, 1844, Wm. D. Canfield, disliking 
the name Mahaska, requested the 
commissioners to make ch^oice of an- 
other name. M. T. Williams, wto 
was clerk of the board, proposed Os- 
kaloosa. There were a number of 
persons present and the sentiment of 
all was taken. A large majority fav- 
ored the name suggested by Mr. Wil- 
liams, whereupon we find the follow* 
ing entry made by the clerk: 

"Ordered, By the Board, that Oska- 
loosa shall be the name of ine seat 
of justice of Mahaska county." 

We are not told just why the name 
of this beautiful princess should have 
been in the minds of so many at that 
time. When Mr. Williams angliciz'ed 
the word he left out the letter "u" 
and gave us the full, rounded, eu- 
phonious name which is an inspira- 
tion to anyone who has ever been a 
citizen of Mahaska county. May its 
streets and homes and the lives of 
its people grow in beauty until the 
stranger who lingers but a short time 
within our borders will always think 
of this city as Oskaloosa, the Beau- 
tiful." 

We are told that Wm. D. Canfield 
"had built a cabin on nls claim near 
where Seibel's mill now stands, in 
the spring of 1844, there being at that 
time a fiowing spring in the draw 
which slopes to the southwest. 
While Mr. Canfield's home was not 
in the original plat of the city, it was 
the first cabin erected within the 
present city limits of Oskaloosa. The 
quarter section chosen by the locat- 
ing commissioners as above describ- 
ed had been staked off by torchlight 
on the morning of May 1, 1643, by 
John Montgomery. John Wtiite had 
claimed the quarter section just 



-38- 



north of town, and Felix Gessford had according to their views on the 
a half section just east. This claim question of location. The result of 
was sold to A. G. Phillips and includ- the election was so large a majority 
ed most of what is now east Oska- in favor of Oskaloosa that the ques- 
loosa. Mr. James Seevers had a tion of location was rorever settled, 
claim just southeast of the Narrows. Gradually the town grew. Cabins 
Mrs. T. G. Phillips tells us in her multiplied rapidly. Streets and roads 
well-written reminiscences of Mahas- were laid out. Saw mills were soon 
ka county that when Mr. Seevers in the neighborhood and ran night 
learned that the commissioners had and day to supply the demand for na- 
chosen the Narrows as the location tive lumber. Frame buildings began 
he threw up his nat and exclaimed: to appear among the rough log cab- 
"Proud Mahaska," thus giving rise to ins. Charles Purvine built and open- 
that expression. ed the first tavern on the Downing 

The town of Oskaloosa was laid out ^onse lot in the late fall of 1844. 
by David Stump, the county surveyor, ^- ^- Canfield had entertained guests 
and Thomas Fansher, father of A. J. ^«™^ "^o^^hs before but his house 
Fansher, carried the chain for him. ^^ "^ ^"^"^t duration. The "Can- 
A day in June was selected for a ^'^^^" "^^"^^ ^'^ ^^^^^ed where the 
public sale of lots. There was strong Bashaw livery stable now stands, 
opposition from the settlers out at ^^ is said of this house that its pro- 
Six Mile and the lot sale was a fail- P"^^^^ ^^ ^t times under the ne- 
ure. After sacrificing several lots ^^^^i^^ ^^ ^o^^^ o^t among the set- 
the commissioners stopped the sale ^^^""^ ^"^^ borrowing a supply of 
and delegated to M. T. Williams the '^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^'^ P^^*^^^ "°<^*^ ^^^ soods 
authority to dispose of them at pri- ^^^^^^^ ^^'"i^^ ^^^^ the river. Bor 
vate sale. When a sale was made ^^^^^^ ^^ ^ necessity of the times 
Mr. Williams gave simply a certifi- ^^^ ^^^ o°^ hesitated to loan, even 
cate of sale with the guarantee of a ^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^"^^<^ ^^ °i^^^- ^^ ^^'^ 
deed when the board should obtain a *^°^^ ^^^ t°^^ ^^^ located there 
title to the grounds from the United ^^^ ^^^ ^ '^^^^^^ ^^^^ «^ ^^'^ 'l^^r*^^ 
States. The records show that the «^^t^°^ ^^^^d. Tall prairie grass 
lots sold for from five to fifty dollars, covered the surface everywhere. It 
The commissioners' records give a ^^« provided on the plat of the or- 
very complete report in Mr. Williams' ^^^^^^ ^"^^^^ t^^<^ ^ P"^"^ «^"^^® 
own hand of this sale for the year ^^^"^<^ ^^ ^^ the center of the quar- 
1845. The highest price paid for any ^^^ ^^^^ion on which the county 
one lot was fifty-six dollars. «®^t was located. The square was 

[surrounded by a fence. Later dif- 

Lot 5, block 19, where the Downing ferent individuals planted trees in 
House now stands, was sold June 9, the square and as a matter of local 
1844, to Harmon Davis for forty-one pride took care of them until their 
dollars. The election of this year growth was assured, 
entered largely into the county seat Dr. Crowder says he distinctly re- 
question, the Six Mile settlers work- members while going with hBs 
ing vigorously to have the location mother from the square northwest 
moved. Candidates were nominated to where the old normal school 

—39— 



building now stands they came on phecy shows how well Mr. ■Williams 
to a spotted fawn near the path, had studied Iowa. In the fall of 
which bounded away and hid itself 1854 he was elected to the state leg- 
in the tall grass. islature and again in 1861 he served 

Mr. Macajah T. Williams built the the county in the same capacity 
first frame dwelling in Oskaloosa in with marked ability. Mr. Williams 
1845, doing the work with his own was a friend of education. His 
hands. It was located on the cor- name appears as a member of the 
ner where the postoffice building board of trustees of Oskaloosa col- 
uow stands. To this home in the lege. The merest sketch of his life 
fall of that year he took his young would require a chapter. He died 
bride. Miss Virginia R. Seevers, a in Oskaloosa, the city which delight- 
sister of the late Judge w. H. See- ed to do him honor, on Sunday, 
vers. January 15, 1884, and he rests in 

Few names are more closely id'en- Forest cemetery, 
tified with the history of Oskaloosa Baxter B. Berry built the first 
than the name of Macajah T. Wil- brick house in Oskaloosa. It is still 
liems. He was a graduate of the standing on North First street, just 
Ohio law school at Cinicinnati and south of the Christian church. In 
was admitted to the Dar at the age the year 1848 Mr. W. T. Smith pur- 
of twenty-two. He came to Mahas- cliased the place for four hundred 
ka county in December, 1843, and and fifty dollars. Himself and wife 
as has been stated, was associated began housekeeping in Oskaloosa in 
with Wm. Edmundson, the first this home in 1849. Mr. Smith has 
sheriff in the organization of the been a prominent figure in the de- 
conty. He continued the nill the velopment of all the enterprises of 
office of clerk of court until 1854, the city and county until the year 
wlien he declined to be a candidate. 1894, when he went to make his 
In 1846 he was one of the locating home at Des Moines. He was elect- 
commissioners to locate the county ed prosecuting attorney of the county 
seat of Polk county. One of the in 1848 and the first mayor of the 
three commissioners failed to ap- city in 1853, and filled that office a 
pear, and another, a Mr. Pinneo, number of terms in after years. He 
was taken sick while making the was a liberal subscriber to and one 
necessary observations, and the of the chief promoters of Oskaloosa 
task of completing the work fell college, as the records show; was 
upon Mr. Williams. When the stakes president two years or the Iowa Cen- 
had been driven fixing the site, Mr. tral railroad, and in all like enter- 
Williams said to the company of prises his name appears as an un- 
men about him, "Gentlemen, I have selfish promoter. 

not only located the county seat of So far as we have been able to 

Polk county but I have fixed upon learn, the chief business houses in 

the site of the future capital of the Oskaloosa in about 1850 were as fol- 

state." It is said that the crowd lows: 

went wild with enthusiasm and car- General stores — Street Brothers; 

ried him about the village on their Wm. S. Dart; E. Perkins and Phil- 

suoulaers. The sequel of that pro- lips & Moreland. 

-40— 



Dry Goods— H. Temple & Co., "Oskaloosa, May 30, 1853. 

Jones & Young. "Now comes S. A. Rice, one of 

Tailors — M. Baldwin, James S. th'e clerks appointed to conduct an 

Chew, R. C. Campfifeld and Currier election in th© village of Oskaloosa 

& Company. for the election of three resident 

Boots and shoes — Wise & Matthews voters of said village to prepare a 

and J. M. Whitney. charter or articles of incorporation 

Saddlers — W. S. Edgar and J. D. for said village to cecome a city, 

Fletcher. holden on Uie 28th day of May, 1853, 

Eagle Hotel; jewelry, Santler & and files a return of said ©lection, 
Co.; wagon maker, J. W. Rodgers; by which it appears that M. T. Wll- 
gunsmith, T. Schriver & Co.; Stoves liams, S. A. Rice and Wm. Longh- 
and tinware, B. Goodrich; furnitur'e, ridge were elected by the voters of 
B. D. Perkey. said village to prepare said charter 

The principal lawyers were M. T. or articles of incorporation for said 

Williams, J. A. L. Crookham, Wm. village to become a city, and it is 

T. Smith, John R. Needham, Wm. H. thereupon ordered that the clerk of 

Seevers, Eastman & SkifE and A. M. this court notify said officers of 

Cassady. their election, and it is furthermore 

The physicians were C. G. Owen, ordered that they prepare said char- 

N. Henton, A. Baker, E. W. Hyde ter or articles of incorporation and 

and W. Weatherford. present them to this court on or be- 

Steps were taken in December, fore the next regular term of this 

1851, to establish city government, court. 

Attorney E. W. Eastman, atterward "J. A. L. Crookham, 
lieutenant governor, presented a pe^ "County Judge." 
tition from the citizens to the On the 17th day of June the char- 
county court requesting a special ter was presented to the' court, and 
election at which the citizens might submitted to the people on the 28th, 
be permitted to vote for or against when it was almost unanimously 
incorporation. The election was or- ratified. 

dered and held December 27, 1851. The first city election was order- 
There were sixty-three ballots cast ed to be held July 2, 1853. 
"for incorporation" and 'sixty-one The charter under wtiich the city 
"against incorporation". At an elec- was organiz'ed defined the city lim- 
tion held January 3, 1852, B. W. its, provided that its council should 
Eastman, John R. Needham, A. S. be composed of a mayor and two 
Nichols, W. H. Seevers and M. T. aldermen from each of the four 
Williams were chosen to prepare a wards into which the city was divid- 
charter. For some reason this ed, provided for elections and named 
committee did not act, and at the the powers and duties of the city 
request of Wm. j^oughridge, Judge officers. 

Crookham ordered another special On July 12, 1853, a meeting of the 

election held on May 28, 1853, to se- officers of the city was called at the 

lect persons to prepare a charter, office of W. T. Smith, at which time 

The records show the following re- Mayor Smith was duly qualified by 

port of this election: Judge Crookham and the council 

—41- 



was organized and held their first 
session as the law making power of 
the new city. At this time Oska- 
loosa had a population of about 
twelve hundred. The city govern- 
ment of the city " of Oskaloosa be- 
came eeffective July 2, 1853, with the 
following city fathers In charge: 

Mayor— Wm. T. Smith. 

Marshal — Isaac Kaibach. 

Clerk — Wm. Loughridge. 

Treasurer — James Edgar. 
Councilmen — 

First ward — J. M. Dawson, R, R. 
Harbour. 

Second ward — I. N. Coope^r, E.W 
Eastman. 

Third ward — Tobias Deightoa, 
Smith E. Stevens. 

Fourth ward — E. M. Wells; Henry 
Temple. 

Isaac Kaibach came to Oskaloosa 
in May, 1851, coming from Penn- 
sylvania, a cabinet maker by trade. 



He is the head of the well known 
Kaibach family and one of our much 
esteemed citizens. A majority of 
the years of his residence in Oska- 
loosa Mr. Kaibach has been in the 
lumber business. 

Wm. Loughridge was a young at- 
torney of excellent ability who had 
recently come to Oskaloosa. In 
1855 he was elected mayor of the 
city and the year following he was 
chosen state senator. Later he 
served as judge of the Sixth judicial 
district and in 1866 ne was elected 
by the Republicans as representative 
in congress, in which body he served 
three years, where his ability won 
for him a wide reputation. 

The young city is now full fledged 
and has entered the race for su- 
premacy and usefulness In the peer- 
less commonwealth or the west. We 
will study its growth in another 
chapter. 



-42— 



Chapter Eleven 

Facts and Incidents About SMahaska Ptoneen 

There is no better waytoleaxnof one or two younger cbildnen. 
the struggles axid embarrassments of Toward evening she felt that she 
the early settlers that to relate must have relief before morning, 
the actual experiences and leave the There were no roads or pathways 
reader to make his own comments, leading to the homes of her neigh- 
So we have decided to devote a few bors, or the child could carry a mes- 
chapters to the recital of some of sage. It was approaching evening 
these interestmg fortnightly happen- and she would be almost sure to 
ings and incidents in the lives of lose her way. In her desperate 
the pioneers, just as they have been loneliness she neard the tinkling of 
given to us by the old timers them- a cow bell on the prairie. She bun- 
selves. Some of mese are most pa- died up the little girl and sent her 
tnetic, some heroic and others out into the gathering shades of the 
amusing but all of them are inter- evening with the instruction to keep 
esting to the readers of this genera- the cow moving and to follow her 
tion. They illustrate the wonderful until she shouia reach the home or 
resources of those whose life on the its owner and tell him to make all 
frontier had brought tnem so clos'e haste to come to her assistance. It 
to the heart of nature and the un- is not difficult to imagine the double 
shrinking tenacity with which they anxiety and suspense under which 
threw their lives into the struggle the good woman labored until she 
for the conquest of the wilderness. was sure of the safety of her child. 
■ The little girl obeyed her instruc- 

In the year 1843 Mr. Matthew tions strictly and brought the relief 

Kinsman took a claim just east of in a short time. A messenger was 

Wright, building his cabin in the sent to Mr. Kinsman and found him 

edge of the timber. In the fall of at the mill patiently waiting his 

that year he made a trip to Picker- turn. He mounted his fleetest horse, 

ell's mill down on Skunk river be- and leaving the grist in the care of 

low Brighton, about sixty miles dis- others, he covered the distance 

tant, to lay in a supply of flour and home in the shortest possible time, 

meal for the winter. No doubt there are a number of 

During his absence one afternoon persons still living who knew Mr. 

Mrs. Kinsman took violently ill. and Mrs. Kinsman during their res- 

Their neighbors were several miles idence in this county. The pioneer 

distant and she was alone with one who told us this story said he 

daughter eight or ten years old and would ask for no better neighbors 

—43— 



than they were for a whole lifetime. 



Mr. George DeLong of Scott town- 
ship came to Iowa in 1842, locating 
for a time in Washington county. 
Mahaska and Keokuk counties were 
at that time under the jurisdiction 
of Washington county, they having 
been first organized. He says that 
six feet of snow fell that winter 
at various times and during most of 
the winter from November until 
April snow laid on the ground three 
feet deep. Grain of all kinds was 
plentiful but it was a hard winter 
on the settler. Stock froze to death 
for want of protection and attention 
which could not be given them and 
for the want of food packs of wolves 
driven to frenzy howled about the 
settlers' cabins and menaced every- 
thing living. 

Mr. DeLong relates that on one 
of the crispy cold night's of that 
winter he was at Pickerell's mill 
waiting his turn for his grist in 
company with twenty-five or thirty 
others. Th'ey almost always had to 
wait a week at the mill and often 
twice that time. Men would bring 
with them a supply of provisions to 
last them for a time and when it 
was gone they would subsist on 
parched corn and wheat until the 
fend of the probation. On this par- 
ticular night they were all seated 
round the great fireplace in the mill 
parching corn and wheat and tell- 
ing stories to pass away the time, 
when to their surprise there sud- 
denly dropped down from the half 
open loft above a hog weighing one 
hundred and fifty pounds or more. 
It had been frozen out of its nest 
and in wandering along the bluff 
against which the mill was built it 



had quietly walked on a plank 
which led into an opening of the 
second story of the mill and while 
settling itself the loose boards gave 
way. It had no more than landed 
on the floor than some one said, 
"Let's kill it and eat it." The sug- 
gestion was acted upon at once and 
Mr. DeLong says in thirty minutes 
it was dressed, skinned and slices 
of it being roasted on the end of a 
stick by the hungry settlers. Some 
one furnished a supply of salt and 
a feast was installed that made ev- 
ery body happy. 



The winters of the two following 
years, 1843-44 and 1844-4o were unus- 
ually mild and favorable to the 
rapid settlement of the country. 
The winters of 1848-49 are referred 
to by all who passed through it as 
the winter of lasting snows and 
severe cold. Mr. DeLong gave us 
quite a number of interesting rem- 
iniscences and facts of the early 
life of Mahaska people. 



All the pioneers agree that the 
Iowa rivers and creeks do not fur- 
nish the supply of water which thsy 
did fifty or sixty years ago. Some 
think the Des Moines river was 
twice as large then as it is now. 
Whether there has been that much 
shrinkage or not, it is a well known 
fact that for a score of years after 
Iowa was opened to settlement, 
steamboats ascended the Des 
Moines as far as Fort Dodge during 
a large part of the year. 

Game was abundant and that of 
the very choicest and best. Dr. W. 
L. Crowder of Oskaloosa says that 
when a boy in his father's generous 



-44- 



home over on Spring Creek in Mon- following records are the only in- 
roe township, he has orten heard stances that have come down to 
his mother remark that in that us where this animal has appeared 
early day she had many times plac- on the scene within the limits of 
ed the kettle filled with water on the county: 

the crane over the fire and then called In 1844 Samuel and Elijah Mc- 
to her husband that she wanted a Murray killed a bear and two cuus 
turkey. He had but to take his gun on Painter Creek. Mrs.S. A. Phil- 
from the antlers orer the door and lips tells us in her book of reminis- 
slip quietly down the creek a few cences of Mahaska county that about 
rods to a cleared spot where the the same time her uncle, Aaron 
corn and wheat grew. This was Cox, and a Mr. Coontz, killed a 
one of their haunts. A single shot young bear southeast of Oskaloosa. 
brought down the choicest of Vhe Samuel Coffin, who came early to 
flock and he was back with his the New Purchase, had the honor of 
prize by the time the water was having killed two bears over on 
sufficiently hot to dress it. Skunk river early in the forties. 



In the fall of 1842 while the In- Wolves were bold and plentiful in 
dians still had possession of this the earlier years. Russell Peck is 
territory, a party of seven hunters said to have shot seventeen from his 
came up from Jefferson county and cabin door during the winter ot 
remained two weeks hunting mostly 1843-44. During the same winter 
in the timber along Spring Creek Dr. Boyer, who was quite a hunter, 
and the Skunk river. Judge Camp- found himself the owner of ninety- 
stock, his two sons, A. J. and Sam- three scalps at the close of the sea- 
uel, and "Wm. Pilgrim were mem- son. A bounty of fifty cents was 
bers of this hunting party. Painter paid on each wolf scalp until the 
Creek and Spring Creek were nam- summer of 1845. At their meeting 
ed by this party of advance nim- in July of that year the county 
rods. Painter Creek was so called commissioners decided that it was 
because while camped on that raaking too heavy a draft on the 
stream they were serenaded by county funds and abolished it. 

what they suposed to be a panther. 

The season of 1842 was unusually We have several times stated that 
dry, and the hunters found pure the pioneers shared with each other 
water in Spring Creek, which was like members of the same family, 
supplied by a number of unfailing Mitchell Wilson came from Wash- 
springs along its course. Hence ington county in 1843 and located 
the suggestive name. over near the Des Moines river 

The party killed five deer and bridge. He had brought with him a 
other smaller game and from thirty- quantity of choice seed corn to be 
six bee trees secured two barrels of planted in the new, rich soil the fol- 
strained honey of excellent quality, lowing spring. During the winter 

There were doubtless a goodly one of his neighbors who had been 
number of bears in the primeval somewhat unfortunate became very 
woods of Mahaska county but the destitute and Mr. Wilson cheerfully 

-45- 



made drafts on his supply of seed on a spree and Mr. Boyer was miles 

corn to meet his wants until it was away before they came to them- 

all gone. In the spring of 1844 he selves. 

made the trip back to Washington 



W. A. Delashmutt tells us that 
himself and sixteen other settlers 



county to lay in a new sufficiency. 
One of his neighbors recalled the 

Incident in speaking of the hard- , ^ . „ , 

ships of that first year. ^^'^ m^vc^e'd to Fairfield by the 

dragoons through the April mud 
and snow, only to be promptly re- 
leased by the kind hearted old 
Prior to May 1, 1843, settlers were Judge before whom their case was 
not allowed to cross what wa^ call- brought. They had been taken from 
ed at that time the "dead line," their camp over on the Des Moines 
which marked the division between river. They were not only releas- 
the lands then open for setlement '^^' ^ut an order was given on the 
and those which belonged to the commissary for a month's provls- 
Indians. Any one crossing this line ioiis for seventeen men, which had 
into the New Purchase must receive been appropriated by the soldiers. 

permission from the military author- 

ities or from the Indians, who were 

the owners of the land. For According to the treaty of 1842, 
months before the opening day, made at Agency City, the Sac and 
scores of enterprising men would Fox Indians were to leave the state 
take the risk and wander about in 1845 for their reservation in 
over the new territory selecting Kansas. In October of that year 
their claims in advance. On two the government furnished teams and 
such escapades Dr. Boyer was wagons to convey the women and 
caught by the dragoons and required children and the aged men across 
to give an account of himself. On the country from their camp south 
the first offense he told the judge of Fort Des Moines to their destina- 
before whom he was brought that tion in the southwest. But the able- 
he was on the hunt of a bee tree bodied men to the number of about 
to replenish his supply of sweets five hundred went down the Des 
for his family. It was unwritten Moines river in canoes to the Mis- 
law in the early days that the bee issippi river, thence by steamer to 
hunter was a quite privileged char- St. Louis and up the Missouri to 
acter. He was not prohibited from Kansas City. They passed Mahaska 
hunting bees anywhere and was al- county one morning in a long line 
lowed to cut the tree when found, of canoes stretching up and down 
As the time was so short when all the river as far as the eye could 
restraint would be removed, any ex- see. Those who witnessed the 
cuse was accepted and the doctor scene describe it as an impressive 
was exonerated. The second time spectacle. Most of them seemed 
he was taken as far as J. P. Eddy's cheerful and as they floated down 
trading post where Eddyville is the current past their old haunts 
now located. There the guards got they were jabbering to each other 

—46— 



in seeming Mlarlty. R. I. Garden,, wTi'en his father, Joseph Porter, 

who was a witness of the pageant, deceased, was coming from Indiana 

says that as they passed his fath- in search for a western home, he 

er's cabin in Scott township they passed up the Narrows. And when 

espied the family canoe pulled up on the ridge where the city of Os- 

on the shore but on the west side kaloosa now stands he met a 

of the river, to which his father haa stranger who took a fancy to alit- 

gone on business. Two of the In- tie sorrel horse which was following 

dians left their canoes and waded the wagon because he had refused 

toward the shore to add another to pull. The stranger said to him, 

boat to the number of their fleet of "I have forty acres of land lying 

canoes, but his vigilant mother just north of this ridge which I will 

called to them, whereupon they re- deed to you for that horse." Mr. 

turned to their boats amid the Porter replied that when he did 

laughter and derision of their com- stop he wanted more than forty 

panions. It was the powerful arm acres of land, and continued on his 

of civilization that made the moth- journey to Pella, where he located 

er's entreaty respected. "While on and made a home for his family, 

the surface they seemed light heart- It would take a Dan Patch to buy 

ed, there must have been some seri- that forty now. 

ous and thoughtful minds among In conversation with Mr. W. T. 
them. They were looking for the Smith about the beginning years of 
last time on the graves of their fa- this county and city, he made this 
thers and their delightful hunting remark: "If I had my life to live 
grounds. With subdued and broken over again, I should always be kind 
spirits they were drifting down the to the boys. They should always be 
beautiful waters of the river they* encouraged. One never knows the 
loved to sure oblivion and extinc- possibilities before them." He then 
tion as a race. There is eloquent stated that when he was mayor of 
blood in the veins of the genuine O^.-aloosa a show had come to 
Indian. He spends his life in com- town and when he was on the 
munion with nature and nature al- ground about to enter the big tent 
ways Inspires and elevates her chil- he noticed Jimmy Edmundson and 
dren. In a few more generations his younger brother, two barefooted 
the true Indian character will be boys taking in the sights. He knew 
lost. An amalgamation has been them well and called to them, say- 
going on for years in the southwest ing, "Jimmy, do you boys want to 
that has produced a hardy and reso- go to the show?" Quick came the 
lute people, just such a mixture of reply, "Yes sir." "Then come along 
races as is necessary for harmony with me," said Mr. Smith. Jimmy 
and the conquest of the rugged hills is now rated as a millionaire and 
and extensive plains of the region his brother as a successful physi- 
which they now call their home cian in a western city, 'x'hey never 
land. tire of reminding Mr. Smith of the 

lift he kindly gave them on that 

Mr. Marion Porter of Pella, Iowa, show day. It pays in a thousand 

stated to the writer that in 1843, ways to be kind to the boys. 

—47— 



Chapter ^<welve 

Kish-Ke-Kosh, the Mahaska. County Chief and His 'People 



The only Indian village tnat we 
have any record of in Mahaska coun- 
ty was the village of Kish-Ke-Kosh, 
located out near the Skunk river in 
what is now White Oak township. 
When Monroe county was first organ- 
ized it was called Kish-Ke-Kosh coun- 
ty, but the name was afterwards 
changed by an act of the legislature. 

He is specifically described to us 
as having a splendid physique. Tall 
and straight as the arrow in its 
quiver, a fine intellectual head, and 
an eye that delighted in humor. He 
was a magnificent type of the Indian 
brave that no more exists except in 
the b'est Indian literature. 

Prior to the year 1837, Kish-Ke- 
Kosh was only one of the principal 
warrior chiefs in the village of Keo- 
kuk. The warrior chief was inferior 
in rank to the village chiefiain, the 
latter ranking next to the chief of 
the tribe who held absolute sway ov- 
er all und'er him. 

In 1837 General J. M. Street, who 
was the Indian agent at Agency City, 
conducted a deputation of Sac and 
Fox Indians to Washington City. 
The party included Keokuk, Black 
Hawk, Poweshiek, Kish-Ke-Kosh and 
fifteen other chiefs of the Sac and 
Fox tribes. 

Kish-Ke-Kosh was always regarded 
as the clown and wit at all the tribal 
councils, and in this journey to the 
East he had opportunity to give full 



play to his humor and sarcasm. The 
delegation took a steamer on the 
Mississippi most likely at Keokuk 
and descended to the Ohio, thence up 
that stream to Wheeling, Va., where 
they took stage across the mountains 
to Washington where the embassy 
was received by the president. 

On their way out a party of ladies 
came on the steamer and were curi- 
ous to learn all they could about the 
party of Indians. A young man ac- 
companying the Indians, on becoming 
acquaited with the ladies, took par- 
ticular pains to show the Indian 
trinkets and costumes, and went so 
far as to finger the g'arments and 
fringes of the chiefs and comment on 
them to the amusement of his guests. 
Kish-Ke-Kosh took decided exception 
to the liberty taken by this presum- 
tive youth and determined to teach 
him some manners. So when the 
ladies had retired he stepped up to 
him and began vigorously to minute- 
ly examine his clothing, feeling his 
hair, his watch chain and exhibiting 
his teeth to the much-amused com- 
pany of observers, chattering all the 
while in his native tongue. Before 
he had finished his pretended inspec- 
tion he had taught the young man a 
lesson in considerate behavior not to 
be forgotten while his memory should 
serve him. 

A party of Sioux chiefs were in 
Washington wh'en the Sac and Fox 



—48- 



chiefs arrived and as the two nations 
were constantly waging war, the gov- 
ernment oflacials requested that a 
council be held with representative 
chiefs present from each of the 
tribes. The council was held in the 
chamber of the house of representa- 
tives. Kish-K*e-Kosh took his place 
in one of the larg'e windows, dressed 
in a buffalo hide which he had taken 
in combat from a Sioux chief. The 
mane and horns of the buffalo were 
used as a head-dress and its tail was 
allowed to trail on the floor. The 
Sioux were sorely grieved at his sug- 
gestive costume and indignantly pro- 
tested, claiming that it was aimed as 
an Insult to them. The presiding of- 
ficer informed them that he saw no 
reason why Kish-Ke^Kosh should not 
be allowed to appear in his own 
chosen costume. A Sioux chief open- 
ed the discussion, complaining bitter- 
ly of how the Sacs and Foxes had 
overrun their lands, burning tneir vil 
lages, driving them from their 
hom^ and killing their warriors. 
Next came Keokuk, the greatest In- 
dian orator of his day. Each address 
was repeated by an interpreter. Web- 
ster, Clay, Calhoun and Benton had 
spoken in this same hall. Thos'e who 
heard Keokuk's impassioned elo 
quence that day were ready to de- 
clare that the old chief had surpass- 
ed them all. 

Kish-Ke-Kosh was next called upon 
to speak. He ridiculed the com- 
plaints of the Sioux, laughed at their 
weakness and mimicked their tale of 
wo©. 

From Washington they proceeded 
to make a tour of several eastern 
cities. At New York they received 
but little attention. When Gen. 
Street attempted to show them the 
city on foot the party wena so embar- 



rassed by people crowding about 
them that they were glad to escape 
through a store Into an alley and re- 
turn to their hotel. At Boston an 
escort met them at the train and on 
the second day they were shown the 
city in open carriages. Goviernor 
Edward Everett gave them a ban- 
quet. On all occasions Kish-Ke-Ko3^ 
won popular favor by his witticisms, 
humorous stories and jokes, especial- 
ly among the ladies. He returned 
home with many beautiful and costly 
presents which they had given him. 
For many years of his after life he 
took great pleasure in displaying 
these presents, saying they were giv- 
en to him by the "white squaws." 
The ability displayed and the distinc- 
tion won by Kish-Ke-Kosh on this 
tour of the East led to his promotion 
as a village chieftain on the banks of 
the Skunk river farther toward the 
frontier of the hunting grounds of the 
tribe. After Kish-Ke-Kosh had re- 
turned from the East he mad© a hard 
effort to inaugurate some npforms 
among his people. He taugnf his 
warriors that it was manifestly wrong 
for them not to assist their wives in 
the drudgery of the camp ani in 
raising the corn crop. Althouga he 
set them an example by helping his 
own wife in her toil, his advice and 
example had little effect on his • 5o- 
pie. This village contained about 
two hundred and fifty inhabitants. A 
short time after the treaty of i8t2, 
they removed westward, locating on 
the Des Moines river three miles 
southeast of where the capital of the 
state is now located. Here they re- 
mained until 1845 when they were 
convieyed in government wagons to 
their reeervation seventy miles south- 
west of Kansas City. 

One© the supreme rulers of a 



— 4«— 



great commonwealth, they had be both sides of the Mississippi river, 

come a crestfallen and humble race, He reported 1,750 Foxes and 2,850 

bandied about at the caprice of ad- Sacs. In 1736, the Foxes having be- 

vancing civilization. come greatly decimated by wars, had 

Some of the bark huts of KIshKe- formed a confederacy with the Sacs. 
Kosh village were still fouad in Both these tribes had come originally 
White 'jak township when the white from the lake regions in the North- 
settlers came, and they afforded shel- west. Fox river in Wisconsin took 
ter to a number of wandering pio- its name from the smaller tribe, and 
neer families In th'eir search for a Saginkw, Michigan, received its name 
home in the New Purchase. Near from the Sacs. Among ttie celebrat- 
the village was found the burying ed chiefs of these two nations were 
place. There were yet to be seen Black Hawk, Keokuk, Appanoose, 
graves covered by rude slabs. Here Wapello, Poweshiek and Pash-e-pa-ho. 
their dead had been tenderly laid During the first quarter of the nine- 
away witti such ceremonies as in teenth century the Sacs and Foxes 
their estimation lightened the sorrow were often at war with the Iowa 
of parting with their relatives and tribe, the last battle being fought at 
friends. lowaville on the Des Momes river. 

The Sacs and Fox^ee generally have near Eldon, about the year 1824. Au- 
their graveyards on a hill sid&. Tte thorities differ as to the date of this 
body was wrapped in blankets and famous bottle. Like many dates in 
laid out in full length, lae graves Indian history, it is not very definite, 
were shallow. The Indians believed At this battle the Sac and Fox trioes 
that people have souls which live completely crushed their rivals and 
somewhere after they die, and these forced them to surrender, 
souls delight to do tte things which Savage and fierce as were laese 
they did in their lifetime. Hence Sacs and Foxes, they had periods of 
they laid on the grave or buried with deep religious fervor and their re- 
them various articles: for men, ligious ceremonies were observed 
knives, tomahawks, bows and arrows; with all the earnestness and sincerity 
for women, buckets, pans, ornaments of their nature. In April, 1843, when 
and choice treasures. When children Dr. James L. Warren with a party of 
died we are told that they would five others were coming up the divide 
place its baby board on which it used to look out for claims before the rush 
to lie, and its rude little toys. Then that would follow May first of that 
a little dog was killed at the grave year, they came suddenly onto quite 
to accompany the little one on its a large camp of disheartened and re- 
long journey to the spirit land. They treatibg Indians. The doctor, who 
believed that animals and things had had some knowledge of military tae- 
souls the same as persons and that tics, suggested they march through 
the souls of these went with the de- the place in military order. On en- 
parted to help them on their way to tering the camp they found these 
the happy spirit land. children of the forests to be engaged 

When Lieutenant Zezulon M. Pike in worship and gave no attention to 

ascended the Mississippi river in 1805 their passing. The men were seated 

he found Sac and Fox villages on in a circle singing in a moumfal, mo- 

-80- 



notonous tone to tlie rattle of what 
seemed to be beans in gourds, which 
were being shaken up and down to 
regular time. The door of the tent 
was closed to exclude intruders, but 
oo» of their number, seeing that 
there was not the slightest spirit of 
molestation, had his curiosity so 
aroused that he lifted the tent wall 
slightly and peeped under at the per- 
formance. The solemn-faced wor- 
shippers did not allow their devotions 
to be the least disturbed by this un- 
grateful intrusion. An old squaw 
who seemed to be the only guardian 
of the place, saw the impertinent fel- 
low and ordered him away. When 
he did not promptly obey, she indig- 
nantly took hold of him, giving him 
a violent pull as she uttered the word 
"Manitou," which was their sacrea 
word for God. She meant by tnis to 
convey to the rude white man the 



sacredness and seclusion of the exer- 
cises within. 

Those were days of much heaviness 
of heart for the subdued Indian. 
They were about to leave forever the 
land of their fathers which they 
loved. We are told that at Appomat- 
tox, men who had never uttered the 
name of God but in blasphemy, were 
most fervent in prayer. It was the 
cry of the soul which would not be 
hushed in that hour of awful agony. 

It was doubtless a feeling mucn 
like this that shadowed the gloomy 
heart of these Indian braves. Once 
the proud and happy monarchs of 
these western prairies and woods; 
now driven before the surging col- 
umns of civilization he knew not 
where. To his keen mind his doom 
was clear. In this thickening shadow 
his soul spoke to him of "Manitou," 
and he gave Him devotion. 



-61- 



Chapter Thirteen 

Holland in SMahaska. County 



Among the makers of Iowa there inson and Brewster. Several young 
came in the summer of 1847 sev- men who had been trained in the 
en himdred Holland coloaists and universities and theological schools 
settled on what was at vhat time became leaders of these dissenters, 
the principal highway across Iowa, One of these men, Henry Peter 
the divide between the Des Moines Scholte, became a prominent ex- 
and the Skunk rivers. It was re- ponent of the advanced thought and 
liglous persecution that brought the three cong' egations over which 
them to America. They were dis- lie prej'.uiod seceded from the state 
s'enters from the established Reform- church. Ae was tried and for a 
©d church and cam© to the great short time imprisoned. Then another 
west to find a refuge. Of course, long trial that cost him $3,000 to de 
many of them came to better tneir fend himslf f against his persecut- 
worldly condition, but the founding ors. He was ordered to vacate his 
of the colony had its origin in me pastorate and soldiers were ordered 
Inborn desire to be free, wuichhas To the iiitVcted district to orevcnr 
alway existed in the blood ofstur- his people t'rm mealing. H<; sub- 
dy little Holland. Hallum says that mitted to these increasing 'ndigni- 
"In Holland self government goes ties with Christian patience an<S his 
back beyond any assignable date, followers multiplied. "They '-.ame to 
Iowa has produced many romances feel thr> .onging for a new father- 
but none of them more interesting land." A commissi'^n was appointor 
than the story of these Pella people, in 1846 io I'eceive applicants iv: erai- 
The Dutch republic has been for gration, e^^ry one of which, it not 
long centuries the asylum for the wtll kn »w ' were re-iuired to bring 
persecuted. The French Hugueno's certificates as to vhnr Christiaaccc- 
found a refuge in Holland and the duct and character and also as to 
Pilgrims and Puitans sailed from their worldly condiL.^n A permanent 
its shores to the new world. Thp organizi.iion was fc ried and prep- 
Pella pilgrims in Hohand opp iseo srations v>era marie for the emigra- 
the formalities of the Established tion in '.he spring of 1817. Foiir 
church. It gave no expression ct ships departed for Aiierica between 
their faith, being empty and mean- the 4th ivd 11th of April of that 
ingless. year. Many pathetic sceiies are tie- 

Not being able to bring about scribed on leaving the Fatherland, 
any reforms in the Established Family bo^^ds were brokeo. There 
church, they be came Separatists, was mucb to urge tneni forward 
like the English Puritans under Kob- and man/ dear ties to l.o broken ou 

-S2— 



leaving the horn© of their childhood, crossed rivers and viaducts ana 

Of tie four ships, only one made ^^^^^^ through tunnels under moun- 

the trip iu twenty-six days. The ^i^- 

otTtier three were at sea from tnirty- They were three we'eks in making 

six to <o:tv days. On the Vi>yage a the journey from Baltimore to St. 

temporary government was instituted Ijouis. They reached St. Loujs 

on each ship. Order and cleanli- early in July. It was three months 

ness were strictly enforced. We are since they left Holland. Twenty 

told that the crews of the four ves- had died on the sea voyage and 

sels were deeply impressed with four since they left Baltimore. They 

the daily religious services and ex- remained in St. Louis during July 

ceptional decorum. They could not and a part of August. The weather 

understand why they were compell- was extremely hot to ihem and 

ed to leave their native land. When their accomodations were poor, but 

the ships landed at Baltimore the they were thankful for the cordial 

health officers were so pleased with American welcome everywhere. One 

the cleanliness of their ships that of the St. Louis Presbyterian church- 

they omitted the usual inspection es was thrown open to them during 

saying, "Oh, these emigrants are all their stay and they used it for both 

right." One of them added, "Wei- church and Sunday school services, 
come to America." Strangers in a 

strange land ,as they were, this The newspapers of the cities 

greeting was a joyous note tothem through which they had pased had 

nuder the circumstances. They Published the report that they were 

supposed they were coming to a Possessed of much wealth and these 

wilderness and had brought with rumors caused th'em to have to pay 

them all manner of household goods, "higher prices for what they needed 

chests, cabinets, plows, farm wag- than were paid by other emigrants 

ons— all of which could have been who had the reputation of being In 

purchased in St. Louis. They had P^or circumstances, 

much to unlearn and many mnro j^ ^^^^^_ ^^^^ ^^^ ^.^^ them laite 

thmgs to learn. They journeyed b^ ^^ ^^^^^^^t of money, all in gold, 

the primitive American railroals and ^^.^^ ^^.^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^j^^, 

canals to Pittsburg, thence by jy ^^^^^ ^^ extremely scarce at 

steamer on the Ohio and Miosis- ^^.^^ ^.^^^ .^ ^^^ ^^^^^ especially 

sippi rivers to St. Louis. ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ Mississippi. At St. 

The journey was tedious and wear- Louis H. P. Scholte, the president 

isome to these peasant people. The of the colony, joined them, after 

cars were so small that they scarce- having made a tour of a number of 

ly accomodated eight persons with the eastern cities in the interet o? 

comfort and wftie drawn up steep the coming settlement. lie *^as 

grades by stationery engines. The much gratified at the cord'ai w'el- 

emigrants were unaccustomed to come extended to his countrymen 

mountains. There were no hills in everywhere he went. In New York 

the home land They were accus- he met many of the descendants of 

tomed to canal boats but these were the Hollanders whose ancestors had 

so different. American boats climb- come to America some two hundred 

ed mountains by means of locks, years before. 

—S3— 



From St. Louis th»y sent out five outfit formed quite a pro<SM8ion. 
spies to report on a suitable placq Some amusing things occurred as 
to form tteir settlement. MI>5souri they were preparing for their over- 
was objectionable because of the land journey. Mr. Matthias De 
slavery question; Illinois was seri- Booy purchased a team and wagon 
ously considered and it is stated tor $250 and loaded up his house- 
that the town of Nauvoo, which hold effects and family ready for 
had just been abandoned by the the march. But when the word of 
Mormons, was offered to them at a command was given his team refus- 
bargain. From the first Iowa had ed to move a step. Persuasion and 
been regarded with favor and the argument failed and he was about 
commissioners to this state went to concluding that he was the owner 
Fairfield to counsel with General Van of a team of balky horses when an 
Antwerp who had charge of the amused bystander assured him that 
government land ofiice. lue Dutch his team was true and faithful, only 
name attracted them. While there they did not understand the Dutch 
they met the Rev. M. J. Post, a of their new master, whereupon the 
Baptist missionary, in wnom Mr. stranger took them in hand, and 
Scholte says he "noted the hand of speaking to them in the vernacular 
God." Having been all over th» of the country,they at once started off 
New Purchase, he persuaded the so vigorously that the driver became 
commissioners to visit the divide in fearful he should not be able to 
Marion county, which he called the make them understand when to 
"garden spot of lowa.'The commis- stop. 

sioners were pleased with the beau- Up the Des Moines valley they 
tiful rolling prairies, and according- came, some riding in wagons drawn 
ly bought two civil townships of by horses and others in carta drawn 
land, paying the government price, by oxen. To the scattred settlers 
$1.25 per acre. This done, they re- they seemed a strange people speak- 
turned to St. Louis to bear the good ing a strange language. Some rode 
news to their people. on horses and many were afoot, the 

All were thoroughly glad to be on men in velvet jackets and the wo- 
the move and a steamboat was men wearing caps and bonnets. This 
chartered from St. Louis to Keokuk, young army of emigrants must have 
They left St. Louis on Saturday af- passed through Oskaloosa. After 
ternoon and reached Keokuk on Mon- some days of travel they came on 
day morning. Impressive religious Aug^ust 26th, 1847, to a level place 
services were heid on Sunday. In on the prairie ridge, where a hick- 
the addresses the colonists were ory pole had been planted deep 
compared to the Israelites entering into the sod, and nailed across the 
the promised land. At Keokuk they top of it was a shingle and on tJie 
purchased horses, oxen and wagons, shingle the word "Pella." It was 
into which their goods were loaJed. September and they had come to 
They paid for everything in gold, the end of their journey. They set 
much to the delight of the Araeri- about digging cellars and building 
cans, who were little accustom'od to dugouts for winter protection. From 
see so much money in the west, a saw mill at some distance they 
The seven hundred strangers at obtained lumber to build the first 
tracted no little attention and their house, a long structure with upright 

-54— 



boards and dlvidi&d into compart- that education is the foundation of 
ments for each family. Prof. New- the commonwealth. In the years 
hall, a pioneer correspondent of the that followed large additions were 
Burlington Hawk-Eye, who passed by made to the colony. The community 
the settlement some weks after the has prospered and has been greatly 
Hollanders had arrived at th^ir des- enlarged. Instead of the two orig- 
tinatlon, writee thus of the new inal townships the settlement is now 
race which he found on this Iowa nearly forty miles long by ten or 
prairie: fifteen miles wide. They are al- 

"The men in blanket coats and ways buying land out seldom sell, 
jeans were gone and a broad shoul- The language of the home in most 
dered race in velret jackets and cases is still Dutch. English alone 
wooden shoes were there. Most of is taught in the schools and is used 
the inhabitants live in camps, tlie in almost all public addresses and 
tops of their houses covered with sermons. 

lint cloth, some with grass and ^he number of Hollanders in Ma 
bushes, the sides oarricaded with ^aska county is estimated to be 
countless numbers of trunks, bores ^bout three thousand. They are 
and chests of the oddest and most ^^^^^ ^^jnly j^ Richland, Black Oak 
grot^que description. They are ^^^ ^^^^^ townships, with a goodly 
all Protestants who have left their ^^^^.^^ in prairie. Madison and Gar- 
native land mucli like the Puritans fi^ld. They are an unpretentious 
of old, on account of political and ^ut prolific people. Strictly uprigit 
religious intolerance and persecution. ^^ everything. Strict in their re- 
They appear to be intelligent and ugi^^ ^^^ gi^^^^re in all things, 
respectable, quite above the average Their homes are kept clean and 
class of European immigrants that wholesome. These are qualities of 
have ever landed on our shores." ^ j^jg^ type of citizenship. 

Many things were done at Pella 
which commend tliemselves to our ^^ the first and second days of 
highest and best civilization. They September, 1897, the people of Pella 
made provision before all 'else for celebrated the fiftieth annirersary of 
the worship of God, for the instruc- t^^'^ settlement. Ten thousand gath- 
tion of their children, and for cit- ^red where the first seven hundred 
izenship. Busy as they were, they halted and began the conquest of 
observed the first Sunday in Pella, the wilderness in 1847. Only a 
and have never neglected that sar few of the pioneers remained. It 
cred day since. ^^s a memorable ocasion for the 

It is worthy of note that wlien descendants of these pioneers, 
some two hundred of the men took Their personality as a people has 
the oath of allegiance to their been much changed since the com- 
adopted country only two of the ing of their fathers. In another cen- 
wTiole number mad© their mark. tury or more they will have become 

For centuries in Holland it has gradually absorbed and lost in the 
been laid down as one of their laws great American family. 



~fS-* 



Chapter Fourteen 

The Flood Year 

Mr. Isaac Kalbach relates that him- would not keep longer than about 

self and eight other passeng'ers left twenty-four hours in hot weather. 

Fort Dodge on a small vessel in the Many families used the morter and 

spring of 1851, coming down the I>es ptestle to reduce the corn to meal for 

Moines river to its mouth and found more convenient use. John W. Jones, 

the waters very low. So shallow in an Oskaloosa merchant, and John B. 

pla,ces that to lighten the load, the Stewart secured the loan of a pair or 

passeng'ers "vould often get off the burrs from Duncan's mill, north of 

boat and walk around a small rapids town, which they fisued out of the 

in the river. On May 12th the rain water and brougnt to town and set 

began to fall. These dates are clear them up just north of the old jail, 

in Mr. Kalbach's mind because of the They were 'enabled lo make pretty 

fact that he arrived in Oskaloosa with good meal for their neighbors out of 

his family on May 13th of that year, the corn that came to them, but maae 

The water fell in torrents and ii® effort to produce flour. Just about 
sh'eets almost every day for about a this time we find this note in the Her- 
month. Then it began to let up some, aid of June 27 of that year: "We 
but not wholly. Everything was flood- Earned that on Tuesday night last a 
ed. Grist mills and saw mills and steamer laden with flour landed at 
all industries of that kind were closecr Eddyville and there discharged its en- 
because of the floods, lueir machin- tire cargo. It is thought the boat will 
ery was under water. The new roads return in a few days and ascend the 
of the county Were practice 'ly im- river to Fort Des Moines. Success to 
passable. Merchants could get no the trad'e, we say." 
more goods, and the people found no Jame.s Young, another enterprising 
sale for their products except the Oskaloosa merchant, determined that 
home consumption. Farmers could he would have some goods from Keo- 
do but little work, tradesmen were kuk if they were to be had. So he 
idle, and business was paralyzed, took a good team of horses and man- 
There was corn enough in the county agtad to reaca the city and made a 
selling for ten or twelve cents per purchase of about eight hundred 
bushel, but corn meal sold for two pounds of needed supplies for his 
dollars and fifty cents per bushel, be- store. On the return trip, he got as 
cause of the difliculty of getting it far up as Birmingham and there he 
gronnd. Flour sold for twenty-one hopelessly mired. Leaving his goods, 
dollars a barrel and much of the time he managed to reach home. One of 
could not be had at any price. Horn- his customers, Wesley Mettler, had a 
my had to be made evisfry day, as it six-yoke team of oxen which he usea 

-66- 



in breaking prairie. Mr. Young sfe- enougli above to swim by wbere the 

cured the service of these stalwarts life and death struggle was going on. 

and their owner to make the trip to In spite of his best 'efforts the swift 

Birmingham for his much needed sup- current carried him by. Undaunted, 

plies, which they did in the slow and however, h'e landed as soon as possi- 

sure method of th'ese faithful servants ble and struck again into the angry 

of men. waters. During this time Delashmutt 

During the period of excessive was in imminent peril of being swept 
rainfall, flowing water was every- into the current with his heavy load, 
where. Culvert^ and bridges in the This time Boyd came near enough to 
country, and sidewalks and street seize Dunn and dragged him to the 
crossings in town wer^ swept away, shore half dead for a time. ±ie then 
Water ran across South Market street made the Chirdtrip ana hrouglit in De- 
ten feet deep. After a hard rain the lashmutt from his perilous situation. 
square and its adjacent streets would Eddyville was under water and its 
be covered with water. Th'e city was people took refuge on the eastern 
not graded then as now. Fish, whicu bluffs. Dick Butcher, who was one o* 
had come up from the river, were left its enterprising merchants in that 
in ponds within two and three blocks year, moved his stoclc of goods to the 
from the square. second floor and carried them out in 

The events occurring out on the boat loads to the foot of Cemetery 

riv\3rs in the county were both serious Hill, where he retailed them out to 

and tragic. Especially on the Des his customers from a wagon. 

Moines. Mr. Geo. DeLong relates an The question of bread for the fam- 

incident with which he was conver- ily when mills were many miles dis- 

sant. Being unable to do much work, tant with no roads or bridges, was a 

the men of the neighborhood spent hard question for th'e early settler to 

much time about the riv^r bottoms solve. In the spring of 1851 Dr. E. A, 

doing what they could to save the Boyer and his neighbor. Van Delash- 

property of thc^e who were suffering mutt, found their supply of meal and 

most. While in this work Van B. De- flour almost exhausted. It was quite 

lashmutt and a Mr. Dunn were in a impossible to get anywhere because 

skiff in the flooded district trying to of the high water. They h'eard of a 

rescue drifting property, when thfey corn cracker some eight or ten miles 

struck a swift current and upset their up the river and sent W. A. Delash- 

craft. Delashmutt caught hoM of a mutt with four bushels of corn packed 

bending sapling and seeing that his on two horses. He arrived at Mr* 

companion was about to sink, h'e Nossman's, the owner of the mill, only 

seized him by his hair as ne was go- to find that it was out of repair. On 

ing under. Twisting arouna over the learning, however, of the pressing 

bending bush which was almost sub- need, the mill was doctored up and 

merged in the water, he clung with a by daylight next morning Mr. Delash- 

death grip to his now senseless com- mutt was ready to return with his 

panion, holding his head out of the four bushels of ground corn. During 

water as much as possible and calling the day Dr. Boyer noticed a vessel as- 

to the men on the shore. One of the cending th'e river loaded with flour, 

men — Jarvis Boyd — took in the Bitua- He put out into the swollen stream 

tion in a flash and mounting a spirit- with two men and a large canoe. 

ed horse he entered the stream far Hailing the steamer, he requested the 

—57- 



captain to sell him a supply of flour, witnessed occurred on Wednesday of 
Tlie captain told him it had been or- last week. The rain literally fell in 
dVired by the government for the sol- torrents for over an hour. Thte face 
diers at Fort Des Moines and he of the whole country presents the ap- 
could not sell it. Mr. Boyer told him pearance of one vast lake of rush- 
he must have some flour if he had to ing water. Much damage has been 
scuttle the boat to get it. After some done by the floating away of fences, 
conversation the captain agreed to bridges, 'etc. The corn has been in- 
let him havV3 two barrels of flour for jured by washing of the ground and 
the privilege of loading nis vessel portions of it will have to be re^ 
with rails which were floating about planted. The small creeks and other 
in drifts along the river. His vessel streams are much higher than was 
had made the trip from St. Louis and ever before known. It is said that 
was short of fuel. Mr. Jioyer got his scarcely a bridgvj or footlog remaina 
flour ashore and roliea it up by the over a stream in the whole country, 
side of his cabm, <oWring it with "The mail matter received here a 
some boards. When his friend Van few days since was completely sat- 
Delashmutt came over shortly after- urated with water. One sack took a 
wards he took him out to show him new rotue down the Des Moines 
his prize. He could not have been river. 

more dumbfounded if he had been "Destruction of property on the 
confronted by a b'ear. How two bar- Des ivioines river has been very 
rels of flour could have reached that great. Whole farms have been clear- 
wilderness home unannounced was fed of fences, grain houses and everyr 
more than he could understand. The thing else of a movable nature. The 
true pioneer never enjoys a good river was never known to be so high 
thing alone, and Mr. Delashmutt got before. The inhabitants of the bot- 
one of the mysterious barrels and its tom lands havie been compelled to 
welcome contents. desert their houses and flee to the 

We give below a number of ex- bluffs for refuge. A number of 
tracts from the editorial pages of tne dwellings were carried entirely away. 
Herald during the summer months or This calamity will doubtless be hard 
tiiis disturbing yfear: on the citizens in the immediate vl- 

"The stage coach in attempting to cinity of the river, as it has not only 
cross a small stream between Ottum- destroyed the present crops, but has 
wa and Eddyville, Wednesday last, taken away the old crops that were 
met with a serious difficulty by get- in store for the present season. Ot- 
ting into deep and rapidly running tumwa, Eddyville, Red Rock and Fort 
water. The current being rapid and Des Moines are almost submerged 
the animals becoming entangled, it by the overflowing of the river, 
was with difficulty that the driver "A man named Sendert DeYong, ai 
and passengers were saved. In the native of Holland, was drowned at 
struggle the coach turned over In Union Mills in this county on Satur- 
the water and one horse was drown- day last. He and a number of oth- 
ed. The driver and two passengers ers were engag'ed in replacing tne 
in the coach got out as best floor in the bridg'e. He was a much 
they could after taking a cold water esteemed workman in the mill, 
plunge." "We learn that a yoimg man wa» 

"One of the heaviest rains we ever drowned in the Des Moines river in 

—58- 



the vicinity of Des Moines on Fri- 
day last. Two small boys were also 
drowne dat Red Rock a few days 
ago." 

The Keokuk Dispatch of June 
of that year says: 

"Alexandria is thre« reet underwa- 
ter and the Mississippi and Dss 
Moines bottoms are submerged for 
miles, and still the rivers are rapid- 
ly rising and the floods descending. 
The inhabitants at Alexandria are 
driven into thvjir second stories ana 
cut off from communication. The 
state of things is most d'eplorable. 
Not only the city but the country for 
eight miles back is submerg'ed. Wte 
cannot but express the xiop'e that 
they will accept the hospitalities of 
our city, which are most cordially 
tendered them." 

Ottumwa Courier: "This is the 
greatest rise ever konwn by the 
whites in the Des Moines river val- 
ley, and probably will not occur 
again in the next half century. Ow- 
ing to the wet weather and extremely 
bad roads we have not been able to 
get our supply of paper from the riv- 
er. Our subscrib'ers, therefore, need 
not be disappointed should there be 
no issu'e next week. This we regret 
but cannot prevent. The fault is not 
ours. By the week after w^ expect 
to be on hands again, as usual." 



During this year, when the roads 
were quite impasable, there was great 
interest in the building ol plank 
roads in this part of Iowa, especially 
b'etween Burlington and Oskaloosa. 
The old Herald files are filled with 
notices of public m'eetings for that 
purpose all along the line. 

Oskaloosa was at that time very 
prominently considered as a most 
suitable location for the state capi- 
tal. A correspond'ent of the Burling- 
ton Gazette of March 19, 1852, has 
this to say on that subject: 

"Oskaloosa, the point to which all 
now center by common consent, is 
known to be one of the healthiest 
and most beautiful inland towns in 
the west. It can easily be made the 
focus of all th'e stage lines in the 
state, and ,as if nature were destin- 
ed to do for her what the state has 
blindly failed to do, it is a positive 
fact that no less than one railroad 
from Muscatine and two piank roads 
from Burlington, the one through 
Keokuk county and the other through 
Fairfield ,ar'e now pushing onward 
toward Oskaloosa, making her their 
declared destination. These facts, 
which are well known, if none oth- 
ers, would prompt us to select Oska- 
loosa for the future seat of govern- 
ment." 



-69- 



Chapter Fifteen 

cMa.ha.ska. County SMills—Some History Relating to their Establishment 

One of th'e most difficult questions work in Oskaloosa. He cam© to the 
whicti the pioneers had to solve was county in 1844. Was representative 
tlie question which can only be solv- from Monroe county in the state leg- 
ed by a good grist mill. The islature in 1856 and mayor of Ottum- 
ground was productive and brought wa during the war period. For som'e 
ijorth abundantly but grain in the years befor his deatn lie was pro- 
crude state was annoying to use. prietor of the old Blackstone House 
Hominy and boiled wheat would not in west Oskaloosa. 
remain fresh long, especially in One evening in 1844 when M. P. 
warm weather. All of the old set- Crowder, father c^ Dr. M. L. Crow- 
tiers witti whom we have talked der, was returning from Oskaloosa, 
speak of the long milling trips with following an Indian trail, h^ noticed 
remorse. Hence it was a great relief a horseman coming loward him and 
wten good mills were established could readily see from the careless 
within the limits of the county. The manner of the rider that it was a 
mill that supplies the family with white man. So he waited for him. 
bread becomes a dear old land mark Th'e two men had never met before, 
and every home is made to feel a but after some conrersation each 
sense of gratitude to tiL'e miller, antl learned that the otner belonged to 
the entire establishment which made the same common brotherhood of 
home feasts possible. There are homeseekers in the New Purchase, 
many things of interest connected Th'ere was almost no reserve among 
with th'e establishing of especially strangers in those days. There was 
the earlier mills of this county whicli a kindred fellowship that made each 
if they could be written, would make confide in the other. Mr. Crowder 
an interesting chapter. We giro some told him he was opening a new home 
of them. over on Middlecreek and askted the 

The first mill built and put m stranger of his plans. He said he 

running order in Mahaska county was building a mill on Skunk river 

was the work of Mr. George Dun- north of Oskaloosa but lacked sixty 

can. Th'ere is no record of the for- dollars of having enough money to 

mer life of Mr. Duncan, who was ev- purchase the necessary machinery 

idently an enterprising man, witn to equip the mill. The idea of hav- 

the fullest confidence in his business ing a mill so n'ear to himself and his 

ability. Samuel Gossage did the me- neighbors appealed so strongly to 

chanical work on this mill. He was Mr. Crowder that he said, without a 

a cabinet maker by trade and op'er- moment's hesitation, not even know- 

ated the first shop for that kind of ing the stranger's name, that he had 

—60- 



that amount of money in the house 
witti which he had intended to en- 
ter his land as soon as it came into 
market, and that if th'e stranger 
would return the money when need- 
ed he would let him hare it to use 
for so laudable a purpose. The 
stranger went home with his newly 
made fri'end and the evening was 
spent in a pioneer conference. The 
next morning Mr. Crowder counted 
out to his guest, who proved to b'e 
Mr. George Duncan, sixty-five dol- 
lars in silver. Sixty-five dollars was 
a snug sum of money in that day, es- 
pecially when it had been sacredly 
laid aside for the purpose of pur- 
chasing a home for the family. No 
obligations or specifi'ed rate of in- 
terest was thought of by Mr. Crow- 
der in maliing this loan. He simply 
thought of the unmeasured advan- 
tage of a nearby grist mill to the 
whole community and to his own fam- 
ily. Mr. Duncan went to Burlington 
and completed the purchase of the 
necessary machin'ery f or his mill. 
Samuel Coffin was given the task 
of bringing the first milling outfit to 
this county. We are told that it re- 
quired six yoke of oxen to bring the 
heavy castings from the river. Mr. 
Coffin was a Titan of strength and 
endurance in his early life, a typical 
frontierman, who was equal to any 
occasion. He visited this county in 
1842 and brought his family in 1844. 
Mrs. Sarah Cruzen, his daughter, re- 
lates that on his first visit her father 
and his two companions, Daniel Vo- 
taw and \<im. Rouse, came suddenly 
upon five hundred Indians in camp. 
They at first thought th'ey would 
have trouble, but were treated kintl- 
ly and allowed to go on in their me- 
anderings. Mr. Coffin was the father 
of sixteen children, represented this 
county in th'e state legislature one 
term, and was always a leading spir- 



it in public enterprises. 

When Mr. Crowder learned that 
the Duncan mill was in full blast, he 
took his ox-wagon, loaded up a grist 
and gave he new miller a call. When 
he had be'en there a short time he 
noticed on stepping out of the door 
that his team was gone. After Iook- 
ing about for them for a time h^ 
went into the mul and told Mr. Dun- 
can that he believed the Indians 
had driven away his trusty team of 
oxen. Mr. Duncan repli'ed, "I think 
you will find them up on the hill in 
my stable, and I want you to take 
dinner with me today." Hfe then toid 
Mr. Crowder that when he came to 
his mill he should never be compell- 
ed to take his "turn" like the other 
patrons, but as soon as th'e grist 
then grinding was out, his grain 
should next fill the hopp'ers. This 
rule he maintained as a distinguish- 
ing mark of friendship to Mr. Crow- 
der as long as he owned the mill 
property. It scarcely need be men- 
tioned that the sixty-five dollars was 
gratefully r'eturned to its generous 
owner in good time for the land pur- 
chase. 

We have given full space to this 
beautiful story of friendship ba- 
cause it emphasizes a phase of life 
among the better class of pioneers 
which Is worthy of emulation. 

The Duncan mill was built where 
the J. S. Whitmore mill now stands. 

Messrs. Comstock and Pilgrim vis- 
ited the South Skunk regions with a 
hunting party in 1842 and selected 
the present site of the Glendale 
mills as the spot for a mill site 
when this county should be opened 
for settlement. During the month of 
May, 1843, thes'e two gentlemen pro- 
ceeded to carry out their designs, 
and constructed a dam across the 
Skunk river at the above point, us- 
ing brush and rock, which served 



—61- 



them for a number of years. The mer purchased the plant in 1870 and 
mill was constructed under the di- did a good business for a numb'erot 
rection of Alexander McCleery, a years. The above mill was the sue* 
mill-wright, and a partner in the new cessor to "Warren's mill, built by R. 
enterprise. It was built almost en- B. Warren in 1846, afterwards burn- 
tirely from the native woods, g'ear- ed, and rebuilt in 1850. 
ing wheels and all being hewn and A grist mill was built in Okaloo- 
chiseled out of the most suitable tim- sa in 1851 by Roop, Harbour & Co. 
bers from the near by forests. The In the following year it was used as 
mill was completed as a saw mill in a grist mill and a distillery. It was 
1844 and was operated night and day much enlarged in 1857. The proper- 
for a tim'e to supply tbe growing de- ty passed into the hands of Siebel & 
mauds for building material for the Co. in 1866 and the rooms formerly 
new settlements. A little later at- occupi'ed as a distillery and whisky 
tachments were made for grinding refinery were used as a woolen mill, 
corn, and in 1845 th'e management In recent years the manufacturing 
were able to turn out good wheat feature Has been discontinued and 
flour. In hese early years these the property used as a grist mill, 
two Mahaska county mills had many The South Spring mills, in thte 
customers from Fort Des Moines ana south part of the city, was an old 
vicinity. The records show that established grist mill, but has re- 
they registered th'eir grists and wait- cently been rebuilt to be used as an 
ed sometimes as long as eight days overall factory. 

for their turn. In the early days Union mills ,on North Skunk, in 
these two mills were Known as the Monroe townsnip, was built during 
upper and lower mills. The fall or the summer of 1849 by Jacob Wimer 
wafer is about six inches to the mile and Christian Brolliar. Mr. Wimer 
between them. In the course of was quite a mill bulld'er; hV3 built 
time, Mr. George Duncan, who built and owned three mills in Keokuk 
the upper mill, sold It and bougnt county before this date and several 
the lower mill. A quite important in Missouri in the years following, 
law suit appears on the county rec- Mr. Brolliar was the millwright when 
ords between Mr. Duncan, who tn'e Roberts mill was constructed,, 
brought the suit, and the owner of and was the leading workman in the 
the upper mill. Mr. Duncan claimed construction of a number of mills in 
back water damages. Ex-Governor the counties west of Mahaska. Mr. 
Eastman represented the prosecution Wimer put 4n a stock of general mer- 
and W. H. Seerers the defense. The chandise at Union Mills in the fall of 
defense won the suit and Mr. Dun- 1849. Mr. James Bridges states that 
can afterwards bought the upper he opened a store at Indianapolis that 
mill. year and he and Mr. Wimer chanced to 

The Huron mills were built on the be in Burlington making purchases 
Skunk river in Black Oak township at the same time. The mill did a 
in 1857 by Morris brotliers at a cost large business in the years that *ol- 
of some five thousand dollars. In lowed. The custom that was drawn 
1868 the mills were bought by Rey- to the villag^e induced two other gea- 
nolds & Bowdel, who enlarged and eral stores lo spring up. A saw mill 
improved it, making it a ten thous- was kept in operation in connection 
and dollar property. Parker & Cra- with the power that run the grist 

-62— 



mill. Mr. Isaac Kalbach, who was a 
cabinet maker in Oskaloosa in tlie 
early fifties, says that he secured lum- 
ber from the mill at times when it 
was impossible to get other stock 
from the yards along thfe Mississippi 
river. During those years both the 
village and the mill did a good busi- 
ness and contributed much toward 
building up that part of the county. 

Currier's mill in White Oak town- 
ship was built by Charles Curri'er, in 
the early fifties. It has always made 
a superior grade of fiour and after 
more than fifty years of service still 
maintains its good reputation. Mr. 
Currier was a typical miller. Hon- 
est, faithful and reliable. These are 
the expressive words used by his old 
neighbors in speakmg of his labors of 
years ago. 



Stone Ridge mill in Monroe tow» 
ship was built by Oliver and Henry 
Wimer in 1872. It was own'ed for a 
tim'e by James Bridges and was after- 
wards moved to What Cheer. The 
Baughman mill in the same township 
was built by a Mr. Cox in 1849. It 
was destroyed by fire in more recent 
years. The first iron bridge built in 
the county was bunt across the North 
Skunk at this mill. Several miles up 
the river was once located the Rob- 
erts mill. On its site a saw mill was 
Duilt in 1649 by Wesley DePew. In 
1870 Mark Roberts built a grist mill. 
After some years the property came 
into the possession of a family of 
brothers by the name of Senate. They 
proved to b'e a set of robbers and 
were credited with belonging to a 
western banait gang. They were driv- 
en out of the country. 



-65— 



Chapter Sixteen 

Recollections of Pioneer Days in Mahaska. County 

In the happy hunting days of the panting at a furious rate. When he 
pioneers there were those who spent could collect himself he looked 
much of their time aoout the camp around for his friend. Unen climbed 
fires in the forest. On their return out on the bank, and, becoming more 
from th'ese hunting excursions it was s'erious, took a long pole and prodded 
the great d'elight of these jolly sons about in the water. Fox now tnought 
of Nature to sit around the home gro- it was about time for him to appear, 
eery — (every grocery had a barrel ot and diving out into deeper water came 
whiskey) — and relate their adventures to the surface. Kangaroo was prompt 
and exp'eriences. S. L, Pomeroy re- in according to his companion as be- 
lates one which he knew to be crue. ing the bravest man of the two. 

Two of these old lovers of the trail 

whom the boys had nick-named Fox 

and Kangaroo, were over across All the pioneers agree in th'e in- 
Skunk for an outing. One day around credible number of wolves in the coun- 
the camp fire Fox says: "I am a brav- try in the early days. Tney were the 
er man ttan you are." Kangaroo re- scavengers of the land, devouring 
plied: "I will not beueve it until you whatever they could find, both living 
prove it." Whereupon Fox threw and dead. S. L. Pomeroy, who came 
his hat into the fire. Not to be out- in 1847, is full of reminiscences of 
done his partner did the sam'e. Coats, those beginning years in Mahaska 
jackets and every thread of wearing county. He was himself quite a hunt- 
apparel followed until their blankets er. He kept two greyhounds for fleet- 
were the only covering they had left, ness on the trail, and a larg^J, savage 
Gathering up their traps th'ey man- dog of mixed breed to do the killing, 
aged some way to get across the rivier when the hounds had overtaken th'e 
and started homeward. Passing a wolf and had it pretty well worried 
large pool of water. Fox again chal- out. All were well trained, and even 
lenged his companion's bravery, say- if th'e wolf was in sight would invari- 
ing: "I can stay longer under the wat- ably follow at the horses' heels until 
er than you can." The words were the word of command was given for 
no sooner uttered than both men the attack. Mr. Pomeroy says when 
made the dive. Fox, who came up he chanced to take one alive he would 
first, chanced to find himself under sometimes bring the hunting outfit to 
the spreading roots of a near-by tree town and have the boys form a circl'e 
on the shore. He could breathe com- in the public square, where the ani- 
fortably and awa^ited developments, mal was let loose and compelled to 
In a short time Kangaroo came up, run in the circle until it would break 

-64— 



through and make for its life. Then 
the dogs of the town were let loose 
and the race began. 

Hunting was the chief excitement 
of the times, and when a settler start- 
ed to mill or on a journey, if his dogs 
chased up a wolf or defer he would 
often unhitch his fleetest horse and 
give chase. Jordan Whitacre, an old 
hunter who lived across Skunk river 
in Madison township, at one time shot 
seven deer without moving from his 
hiding place. A. h'eavy sleet covered 
all nature and while hunting in the 
forest he came unexpectedly upon a 
group of sevBn who had not noticed 
his approach because of the cracking 
and crashing of falling branches ev- 
erywhere. They took no notice oi 
the report of his gun until the last 
one had fallen. 



In 1848, James Woods, who liveu 
over on Middle Creek, came over to 
Samuel Coffin's to borrow some mon- 
ey. He found Mr. Cbffln some miles 
from homte breaking prairie. Mr. Cof- 
fin told him he did not have time to 
go to the house to get him the money, 
but if he would go ov«r to the house 
he would find a package of money in 
a particular corner of the smoke- 
house. Take from th\d package the 
sum he wanted and put the rest back 
where he got it. No note or obliga- 
tion whatever was given. S, L. Pom- 
eroy was administrator of the Coffin 
estate and says this was a fair sam- 
ple of the business m'ethoda of this 
large-hearted man. He aimed to deal 
In that way only with men of veracity 
and his losses were not orerly large. 



Major N\B«ley, for a trad^ Said he 
would take anything. The Major Baid 
he had nothing to trade hut chickenB 
and turkeys. If he wanted that kind 
of a trade he should take until he wa« 
satisfied if h« woUM vatGh them blm- 
self. "Very good," says young East- 
man, congratulating himself. "You 
take the calf and if we can't get the 
fowls any oth'er way I am a good shot 
with my rifle." The Major cautioned 
him to come quite early in the morn- 
ing or late in the evening, as they 
were off to the woods during the day. 
Early one morning Eastman drovB out 
to ttie Neeley home, some miles north- 
east of town, to bring In a buggy load 
of toothsome chickens and turkeys. 
The Major told him he had come a lit- 
tle late for the turkeys, as they were 
off for the day. Taking him out into 
a piece of deadened timber he showed 
him a prairie chicken here and there 
in the tree-tops. "Are these the fowls 
you promised I should have for the 
catching?" said Eastman. "O, yes," 
said N'eeley; "our chickens and tur- 
keys are all of the wild variety.' The 
young attorney was too badiy unnerv- 
ed to try his skill as a marksman, but 
drove back home, making the mental 
record of defeat number one. 



Back in the forties when E. W.East- 
man was practicing law in Oskaloosa, 
one spring h'e chanced to own a calf 
which he was quite desirous to dis- 
pose of at almost any price. So be 
bantered one of hla constituents, a 



Perhaps the first pork packing done 
in this county was don'e uy Deeper 
Smith in the winter of 1847-48 at the 
lower end of Six Milo bottom on the 
jyee Moines river. It wus an open 
winter and favorable to the business. 
The hogs were brought into Oskaloo- 
sa already dressed and hauled down 
to the packing house. The work was 
superintended by Henry Deister. To- 
ward spring a large fiatboat some fifty 
feet long and half as wide, was built 
of heavy native lumber with the ex- 
pectation of floating the cargo down 
to some southern market when the 
spring rains should bring water 



—66— 



•enough in the river channel to make conical top, into which a ring of con- 
the trip with safety. That year, how- venient size was inserted for carry- 
ever, proved to bte a very dry year and ing it. A door of the same material 
the spring went by without the usual hung on hinges and allowed a candle 
freshet. A Dr.Lee had a similar pack- to be insv^rted on the inside. 

ing house and boat further up the riv- 

er. When these gentlemen saw in John R. BaV3r showed us a receipt 
th'o early sammer that the river route given by his fainer, G. W. Baer, to 
would not be available to them, they Thomas Fancher ia 1848,when the £»r- 
secured teams and moved their pork mer was county treasurer of Mahaelw, 
products overland to Keokuk, where county. The receipt is written in a 
it was Bold or sent down the Missis- plain hand on a scrap of fool's-cap pa- 
sippi on boats. A few years later per of a blue tint, and reads as fiol- 
they loaded their flatboats with corn lows: "Received of Thomas Fancher 
which brought them a good price his taxes in full for the year 1847. 
down the river because of the large Jan. 7, 1848. G. W. Baer, T. M. C." 
demand for it by emigrants on their Mr. Baer was a tailor by trade, his res- 
westward march. idence and shop being located on tl»e 
west side of the square. In the year 

We examined with much interest 1845 fire destroye . both shop and res- 
sBV^jral primitive articles owned by idence. It was quite a notable fire 
S. L. Pomeroy. Among them was a at the time, being the first tnat had 
hand-made hammer made seventy-five occurred in the village of Oskaloosa. 
years ago and used in the family for Mr. Baer recalls the visit to Oskakx>- 
three quarters of a century. A door sa of a company of Musquakee im- 
with wooden hinges, having all its fas- dians in the spring of 1848. They 
tening with pegs instead of nails, was were led by their chief who was wide- 
made by John Morgan, north of Fre- ly known as Old John Green. His 
mont, in 1848. An oak clapboard four father was quite well acquainted with 
feet by eight inches rived out by his the tribe, having in the year previous 
father in 1855. A huge prairie plow purchased from them their furs. Be- 
made by Nichols & Tolbert in 1851, cause of an acquaintance formed in 
in their blacksmith shop, which stood this way they called him th'e White 
on High avenue one block west of Chief. The Indians were met on 
the square, where Lewis Brothers' North Market street and they said to 
implement store now stands. Mr. Mr. Baer by signs and scraps of brok- 
Prine says they kept the old servant en English that they had been withouc 
pretty busy in ihose early years. It food for three days. He told the chief 
was drawn by six yoke of oxen and to come down to the house and he 
sometimes ten. This larger number would give him something to eat. 
however, were only used when they Whereupon the whole company ac- 
were breaking young cattle to work cepted the invitation and marched af- 
in the yoke. A yoke of cattle broke ter their leader. Mr. Baer persisted 
to work were worth much more than in vain that it would be impossible for 
those who had yet to be initiated. him to fe'ed so many. They replied 

An old-fashioned lantern carried by that they were hungry and must be 

our fathers sixty or monj years ago. fed. After they had devoured all of 

It consisted of a perforated sheet of the eatables in *^e neighborhood, the 

tin welded in circular form, with a viilagers loaned them a supply of p<Ls 

—66— 



aud kettl'es and they were directed to 
a grove over on the hill on ■wtiat is 
now North Third street. Here they 
camped over Sunday, On Monday 
the warroirs went to Mr. Baer's resi- 
dence, a half block north of tne Chris- 
tian church, and left in the care •! 
Mrs. Bafer all of their implem'ents of 
war while they went up to the old 
court house and repaid the villagers 
for their hospitality by giving them 
a genuine war dance with all of its 
confusion, pow wow and frenzied ges- 
ticulation. It was always their cus- 
tom to place their war equipments 
out of their reach before going into 
these war dances, lest in frenzied ex- 
citement when the war spirit had tak- 
en full possession of them, some vio- 
lencva might follow. After a visit ol 
less than a week they departed to> 
ward tlie northwest into their wilder- 
ness home. 



with whom we have conversed, shatts 
their heads when speaking of the aji- 
nual prairie fires which swept the 
western prairies every fall after the 
froBt had kill'ed the grass and left a 
bed of dry straw covering the whole 
face of Nature. The cautious settler 
always surveyed the landscape iar 
and near before reitring at night. If 
there was an unusual light anywhere 
in the horizon some one of the house- 
hold remained on guard throughout 
the night to givte warning in case of 
its approach toward the cabin. In 
case of its approach a counter fir^ was 
stai'ted. Much damage was done in 
th'e early years by these fires. Mrs. 
G. B. McFall states that in their early 
home in Cedar township when one of 
these resistless fires was rolling 
across the prairie toward their home, 
a sudden change in the wind reversed 
its course and saved their property 
from destruction. 



All the old settlors of this county 



—67- 



Chapter Seventeen 

^AhAskti County's First Schools »nd their Teachers 

The first school in Mahaska county Mrs. T. G. Phillips and has written 
was taught by Miss Semira A. a volume of entertaining reminls- 
Hobbs, who had come to the settle- cences of that period. H'er own de- 
ment in August previous to the time scription of that first school house 
of beginning her school. A number with its inmates cannot fail to in- 
of the settrers had been on their terest the reader, 
claims over a year and began to be "The settlers set a day to repair 
desirous to have their children in to the woods on the borders of the 
school. A rude log house was built sixteenth section, taking with them 
two and one-half miles east of Os- axes, mauls, wedges, froes, augers, 
kaloosa in the timber and on Sept- saws and broad axes. They then 
emb'er 16, 1844, Miss Hobbs b'egan proceeded to chop down some linn 
her thirteen weeks of school. A trees, not taking time to hew them, 
very business-like agreement was but built a cabin of round logs, leav- 
signed by both parties. Miss Hobbs ing the bark on. Th'ey rired out 
agre'ed to teach the school for the boards of oak to cover it, putting 
sum of one dollar and twenty-five weight poles on to hold the boards 
cents for each of the eighteen pupils in place. The floor, benches and 
attending the school. The names on writing desk were made of pun- 
the original contract and the num- cheons. Puncheons are made of logs, 
ber of pupils from each family are split and made smooth on one side 
as follows: by h'ewing with a broad-axe. Some 

Aaron Cox, 6; Nathan Coontz, 3; of the early settlers had become ex- 
Brantly Stafford, 1; Poultney Lough- perts in hewing puncheons and riv- 
ridge, 5; John Cunningham, 3. Miss ing clapboards. This temple of 
Hobbs had taught one term of school learning was supplied with a sod 
down in Henry county. TTie death chimney, a hearth long and wide, 
of her widowed mother some months not mad'e with stone or brick, but 
previous had left her an orphan and with rich black loam. A log was 
she had come to the New Purchase sawed out of one side of the house, 
to make her home with her uncle leaving a space eight or ten feet 
and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Cox. long, for the purpose of admitting 
She had a winning disposition, was light. One of these primitive ear- 
quite accomplished, and being ai- penters with a pocket knife whittled 
ways disposed to make the best of out sticks the proper length, then 
things, was heartily welcom'ed by the placed them in an upright position 
best people in the settlement. at regular distances apart along this 

Miss Hobbs afterwards became opening. Glass being a luxury not 

-68- 



easily obtained, oiled foolBcap paper same year taught a ferm in a more 
was pasted over this improvised win- comfortable cabin which was located 
dow sash. In laying th'e foundation on the corner of North Third street 
of this edifice the architects were and A avenue, 

particular to observe the points of In the years that followed almost 
the compass. A door was made uy every settlement in the county had 
sawing out logs to the proper height somvs sort of a school during at least 
and width. No shutter was provid- a few months in the year, 
ed, only an opening looking toward In the winters of 1844-45 a gen- 
the south. When the sun Bliown tleman by the name of Samuel Ca*-- 
thfere was no trouble in telling when well taught a small school in east 
it was noon. Ev^ry one of ihe chil- Oskaloosa in one end of a double 
dren were well behaved and obedient, log house belonging to A. G. Phil- 
tried hard to learn and made con- lips. In the summer of 1815 Jam'es 
siderable advancement. 'ihese boys Johnson, a brother of Allen Johnson, 
and girls had pluck. Th'ey kept the founder of the Methoaist church 
warm if they could but did not in Oskaloosa, taught a school in an 
whine if they were a littie cold, unfinished frame "house on the south 
They were used to cold houses, with side of the square, belonging to Le- 
only a fire place, where the face vi Smith. 

would burn while the back would 

fre'eze. When the cold became se- One of th'e best schools of that pe- 
vere one of the kind, thoughtful mo- riod was taught in 1847 by Wm. 
thers sent a coverlet to hang over Hearst. He occupied the court 
the door. Deer and rabbits scam- house two terms and then removed 
pered over prairie and slough. These to a frame building which he had 
pioneers were good marksm'en and built on the corner of B avenue and 
along with their corn bread, had ven- D street. On account of its color 
ison and prairie chicken in abund- the building went by the name of 
ance. One evening on returning Greencastle. He had some fifty pu- 
home from school the teacher was pils, among whom were Mrs. Eveline 
informed that the head of the family H. Needham, John R. Baer, Mrs, Em- 
had killed a b\3ar." ily J. Coryell and H. B. Owen. Mr. 

Mrs. Phillips still lives in Oska- Hearst was educated for the minis- 
loosa, now herself a widow, but hon- try and took up teaching for a time, 
ored and loved as in the days of her When the tide of emigration to Cal- 
girlhood years. Of the eighteen ifornia set in he sold his school and 
boys and girls who sat around the outfit and in 1849 joined one of the 
big fireplace in that frontier school western caravans. 

room three still remain in Mahaska 

county: Mary Laughridge iShaver, After Rev. R. A. McAyeal came to 
Emily Laughridge Correll, and Jas. Oskaloosa in 1856 h'e organized a 
Laughridge. The latter owns the or- school in the old U. P. church, of 
iginal Laughridge farm in Spring which he was pastor. It was called 
Creek township and all live in Os- an academy. The church was locat- 
kaloosa. ed at the corner of High avenue 

MiBs Hobbs taught a second school and Third street, 
in that log school house in the Among the teachers of this school 
spring of 1845, and in the fall of the was a Miss Martha Mcuowen, a 

-69- 



young lady of superior culture and years old. B. M. Doolittl'e was fhe 
more than ordinary gifts. She was second teacher in the little log school 
a d'evout member of ^.^e U. P. church house at Fremont. His home is now 
and an invitation came to her from in'e in Washington, Iowa, where he is 
foreign mission board of that church enjoying a hale old age. These m'en 
to become a missionary in Egypt, were the teachers of the villag-e in 
The young man of her cnoice had the early 50's. When the log cabin 
extended his hand offering to be- had given place to the little brick 
come her life companion. She felt school hous'e a few years later we 
that this call to becom'e a teacher find among the honored list of teach- 
among a benighted people in a wid- ers in that part of the county the 
er field was a divine call. The ideal names of J. C. Chambers, William 
of every true woman is to sometime White, Alfred Gleason, Thomas Jef- 
bc mistress of a happy home where ferson Seevers, W. A. Rankin, after- 
love reigns supreme. Such a con- wards captain in the 33d Iowa, Mar- 
g-enial retreat was now offered her, garet and Sarah Canon, sisters of S. 
and from a temporal standpoint her R. Canon, W. F. and Dani'el Hay- 
heart gave consent to the felicitous dock, now at the head of the Hay- 
thought, but her loftier nature saia dock Manufacturing Company of St. 
to her, "You should give up this Louis. 

prospective joy to become a messen- 

ger of light to them who have it John Scott of Adams township 

not." Miss McCowen yield'ed to the was on'e of the pioneer schoolmasters 

voice of conscience, resigned her po- of this county. He was born in the 

sition and cheerfully gave her tal- lowlands of Scotland, his parents 

ents to teaching the gospel message coming to Iowa at an early period, 

and training the downtrodden race He was well educated, was a tailor 

in Egypt. This she continued to do by trade but never followed his 

until she became blind. The exces- trade in th"© west. He was a devout 

sive sunlight in that land is more member of the Pr'esbyterian church, 

than many of the natives themselves Chaste in his life and exacting in his 

can endure without great suffering, habits. There was a vein of sadness 

After her eyes had utterly failed Miss that ran parallel with his pathway. 

McCowen still continued to teach The cause was only known to his most 

from memory. For forty years she intimate frienus. Before coming west 

instrucfed old and young how to lift he had won the h'eart of the girl of 

themselves up into a better and no- his choice and while he was preparing 

bier life. the home that should be theirs to ne- 

joy otgether, down to old ag"e, h'er 

Joseph McFall taught the first spirit was taken to the better land, 

school in Cedar township, northwest He n'ever married. He was living to 

of Fremont, in 1846. Sarah Kins- be true to her. So for almost twenty 

man .afterwards Mrs. W. S. Edgar, years he taught the children of th'e 

taught the first school at what is adjoinfing districts. He took pleas- 

now Concert school house. E. H. ure in their young lives and they 

Bobbitt taught the first school in loved and respected him. H'e owned 

Fremont. Mr. Bobbitt is still living a farm but always rented it and lived 

in White Oak township north of with the family. In the earlier days 

Wright. He is now past 'eighty his comfortable home was known as 

—70— 



"Buckhorn Tavern." He seldom turn- 
ed a traveler away. The lious'e got 
its name from a pair of large antlers 
being nailed above the door. Mr. 
Scott was always highly esteemed for 
his good judgment and character, but 
as the years advanced he became 
quite eccentric. He never owned any 
personal property of any kind, not ev- 
en the furnishings for his own room. 
He accepted the equipments furnish- 
ed by his tenant and when he chanced 
to be out of a tenant for a time he 
found a welcome home with one of his 
neighbors. And so he lived unembar- 
ransed, waiting for the call to th'e 
spirit land. When it came it found 
him ready. 



In the year 1845 a young man, Wm. 
Laurance by name, took a claim in 
Madison township and built a claim 
cabin some twelve by fourteen feet, in 
the timber not far from where th'e 
present Madison scnool house now 
stands in the Cruzen neighborhood. 
He took a contract to furnish a cer- 
tain number of rails for some adjoin- 
ing improvement and was hard at 
work at his task when his neighbors 
learned that h'e could teach school, 
and besought him to open a school in 
his cabin for the children of the grow- 
ing settlem'ent. When he persisted 
that he could not leave his work the 
settlers offered to complete his rail- 
splitting contract if he would accept 
the easier task of teaching their chil- 
dren during the winter. This he 
agreed to do and rude wooden benches 
were improvised and the school op- 
ened. iSo far as we are able to learn 
thirteen children attended that school 
during the winter of 1845-46. Wm. 
Shumake, Mrs. Hamilton Cruzen, Jac- 
ob and John Conin and Mrs. S. L.Pom- 
eroy were among the numb'er. This 
teacher of long ago gave himself dur- 
ing the school hours to giving his lit- 



tle claim cabin the air of an orderly 
place of learning. It was his custom 
to stand at the cabin door and bid the 
children good-night as they retired. 
Th'en taking his ax on his shoulder he 
would repair to the timber to prepare 
"night wood" for himself and a suffi- 
cient quantity for use during the next 
day. After barring his door to make 
himself secure from the wolves who 
gathered nightly in quest of th'e 
scraps about the place, he read for a 
time by the light of the big fireplace, 
and then lay down to sound sl'eep on 
a mattress of prairie hay. Mr. Lau- 
rance boarded himself,baking his corn 
cake on a flat rock before the big fire- 
place three times a day and roasting 
his meat on a forked stick. He was 
the fortunate owner of a cow who 
roamed about the woods eating buds 
and bark from the newly fallen trees. 
This cow supplied the pion'eer teacher 
with milk and cream and helped to 
keep the school going while she pro- 
tected herself from the wintry storms 
as best she could. Mr. Laurance serv- 
ed th'e new settlement as justice of 
the peace. Later he moved up into 
Prairie township and his family are 
now well known citizens of the 
county. 



Robert Styles, of Prairie township, 
was a country school teacher of much 
vigor and ability whose name will be 
ch'erished and honored by more than 
one generation. He was born of 
Scotch parents in England in 1815. 
He was mostly self-educated, but al- 
ways a clear and definite thinker. In 
the course of his long life of almost 
ninety years he taught fifty-thre'e con- 
secutive terms of school. His work 
as a teacher, however, extended over 
more than that number of years, and 
he becam'e known as the veteran 
school master of the state. Mr. Styles 
delighted in his work, and was always 



71— 



in a ch'eerful frame of mind. He lov- 
ed the children and enjoyed their re- 
spect and confid'ence. No one ever 
heard of a particle of friction in tis 
school. Being of active habits he 
took much pleasure in open air exer- 
cise, counted it only enjoyable recre- 
ation to walk from his home a few 
miles south of N'ew Sharon to Oska- 
loosa on any morning, winter or sum- 
mer. He taught the neighborhood 
schools about his home, making long 
• walks morning and evening through 
the six or eight months of the school 
year. At the age when most men 
would have sought reli'ef from the 



anxieties of the school room, Mr. 
Styles continued to teach. He loved 
the work of the teacher and during 
the last years of his vigorous old ag^ 
he beguiled the wintry hours away 
with his school books, keeping his 
mind fresh by study as in the early 
years. During the last months of his 
life it was his great joy to have the 
children visit him and sing to him 
their school songs. His life was act- 
ive but simple and unpretentious. 
These habits gave him an unimpaired 
Intellect to the peaceful ena of his 
days on earth. 



-72- 



Chapter Eighteen 

Pioneer Doctors 

Minor ailments were taken care of Dr. S'eth Hobbs was one of the 
by the early settlers themselves, first physicians who practiced in the 
Mothers understood th'e medicinal Narrows and vicinity. Dr. Boyer, 
properties of the native plants, barks out on the Des Moines river, was a 
and herbs. The Indians were very man of culture and a highly esteem- 
conversant with the 'simple remedies ed physician. Being one of th'e first 
of the country and their advice was sttlers in the county, he became 
always freely given when sought for. widely known and for fifteen years 
It is generally conceded that the had an extensive practice. A gentle- 
Indjlans did not suffer from many man, then a young man, who was a 
diseases that came with civilization, neighbor to Dr. Boy^r stated to us 
They were doubtless better acclim- that he had frequently accompanied 
ated, but there were conditions pro- the doctor on his perilous trips in 
ducfed by the cultivation of the soil the early days, when they often had 
which developed particular kinds of to swim their hors'es across swollen 
fevers. There were a number of streams and make long journeys, 
things which contributed to make The pay never entered into the trip, 
th© new country appear unhealthy. Once, after a long ride through 
Impure water, course and scanty snow and storm almost to Albia, 
food and the multiplied privations of where the doctor had been called in 
the wilderness were extremely try- great haste, wh'en they arrived al- 
ing on the first settlers. most froz'en, the doctor preceded him 
The prevailing diseases were inter- into the house and immediately re- 
mitttent fevers, fever and ague, or turned, telling him not to come in, 
th'e "chills," which refused to yield as it was a contagious disease. He 
to anything but the use of quinine, then laid off all his outer wrappings, 
then a common remedy in its crude went inside in his shirt sl'eeves and 
form. prescribed temporarily for the pa- 
Cuts and wounds were treated with tient, and again took the saddle for 
poultices, the only antiseptic being the long ride home, telling his pa- 
hot or cold water, and it is interest- tient to secure another physician, as 
Ing to learn that there were very it would not be possible for him to 
few cases of blood poisoning. There treat thvj case. Dr. Beyer's practice 
were no laws governing tlie practice reached from Bonaparte on the south 
of medicine and self made doctors to Red Rock and occasionally to 
sprung up who carri'ed saddlebags Des Moines on the north, 
filled with bitter herbs and roots. Dr. C. G. Owen came to Oskaloosa 

-75- 



in 1845 and was a practicing physi- hung over the eldge of the saucer, 
cian in this county for forty years. The doctor was always a cheerful 
Mrs. H. B. Owen, who came in 1852, man and made the best of the cir- 
relates some of his frontier 'exper- cbumstances and succeeded in giv- 
i'ences. We give one that will illus- ing the needed care to his patient, 
strate a phase of life among one but never forgot the perilous ride 
class of early settlers. The doctor and the cold reception of that stor- 
was called some twelve miles into my night. 

the country. It had been raining 

som'e through the day, and in the Dr. Warren, father of Robert War- 
evening, when the message cam'e for ren, was an early settler in Black Oak 
him, it had turned into sleet. He township. Besides b'oing a practicing 
was riding a strong, sensible black physician, he made himself doubly 
horse whom he had named "Nig." useful to the settlers by looking after 
He was so sure footed and obedi- the spiritual welfare of the communi- 
tent that the doctor always felt safe ties in which he labored. All of the 
on his back. When he had gone old-time residents speak his name 
about ten miles he came to a narrow, with reverence. J. M. Wharton says 
swollen stream. It could not be that shortly after his father's family 
forded as there was thick shore ice had located in West Garfield township, 
on either side. The only possible Dr. Warren called at their cabin and 
way hte could continue his journey his good mother came to the door and 
was to select the narrowest place in call'ed the children in. When the doc- 
the angry stream and leap across it. tor had read a portion of Scripture.he 
There was only a possibility of sue- offered a short prayer. This was his 
cess, as the water was deep. Pio- custom. Mr. Wharton said that the 
neer physicians w'ere not accustom- incident awakened a train of thought 
ed to thinking much about their own in his mind that has never left him. 
safety and the good doctor inform- Coming to the county in 1843, he first 
ed "Nig" that he would have to stopped in Black Oak township in this 
make the leap. To this the pioneer county, but shortly afterward moved 
Black Beauty tacitly consented to do over into Marion county, three miles 
his b'est, which he did in the dark- southeast of Pella, where he made a 
ness, and proudly carried his master claim and remained until 1847, when 
over the danger. Reaching his suf- he returned to this county and set- 
fering patient, he found the cabin in tl'ed south of Peoria where he resided 
utter darkness. Nothing in the room until the time of his death, January 
to make a light; no comfort of any ig, 1870. 

kind. Th'ey expected the presence of 

the doctor to bring health and cheer Dr. D. A. Hoffman is one of the men 
to the home. Dr. Owen tied a but- who has rendered most faithful and 
ton in the center of a small piece of constant service to Mahaska county 
cloth, which, when he had twisted people. Coming to the county in 1861, 
he dropped into a saucer of some he has given his life to answering 
sort of grease which was brought calls night and day, wherever the ser- 
out. When the cloth had become sat- vices of a competent physician were 
urated with the melted grease it fur- needed, A gentleman related to the 
nished a fair light as th'e end of it writer that on the night of Dec. 31, 

-74- 



1862, when the th'ermometer was 26 when sent for, and the messengfiir 
degrees below zero end as fearful a needed to ply his spurs to keep along 
storm raging as ever passed over with her. Her charg-es were about 
Iowa, Dr. Hoffman responded to a one dollar per day, and her patients 
country call in a very critical cas©, s'eemed to get along about as well as 
and insisted on returning home the those of the regular profession, so the 
sam'e night, when stock of all kinds old settlers say. The goou lady was 
was freezing to death by the hundred's, well respected and esteemed by h'er 
No doubt cases like this might be neighbors. She used the gifts she 
multiplied many times. Through cold possessed and served her generation 
and flood and heat Dr. Hoffman has w'ell. 

lived almost a charmed life in his 

more than forty-four years of service Dr. Carter, afterwards Captain Car- 
in ministering to suffering humanity ter, practiced at Indianapolis for some 
in this county. In th-e course of theS3 years in the fifties and early sixties, 
long years of almost uninterrupted Dr. W. L. Crowder relates that while 
seri ice as a physician. Dr. Hoffman he was a young man studying medi- 
has been a constant student of nature, cine he witnessed an op'eration by Dr. 
He has collected perhaps the finest Carter in which he amputated the 
private museum in this part of Iowa. shattered arm of a gentleman who had 
^mong the pioneer doctors in th'e met with an accident, using only a 
nor. Least part of the county was a butcher knife and a common saw. 
German lady by the name of Hoopes. The operation was entirely successful. 

Herself and husband constituted the 

family and their home was over on ^r. E. N. Woodworth practiced 
Middle Creek in Adams township.near twenty years in the north and north- 
what was th'en known as Buckhori: west part of the county. First at 
Tavern. She was a thorough-going, Georgetown and then at Peoria. He 
energetic character, and had acquired moved from this county to Southiern 
Feme skill as a nurse, to which she Missouri, 
added a practical knowledge of herbs """"— 

and simple home remedies. Thes'e Dr. Amasa Fisher came to this coun- 
herbs she carried in a cloth sack or ty in 1854, locating north of Indianap- 
whtn prepared ready to be adminis- olis, where he practiced medicine for 
tered, the liquid was conveyed in a twenty years or more. We find the 
jug so as to have a good supply if the names of Doctors S. S. Cook, David 
case demanded it. She answered Mills, Matthew Griswold, Samuel Ev- 
calis day and night as a midwife. Her ans and Cyrus Bond who in the early 
practice was in the late forties and years looked after the ills of the set- 
."■arly fifties. There were no roa<ls tiers in the vicinity of Fremont. Dr. 
leading anywh'ere in that early day. Wm. Edmunson, son of th'e first sher- 
Mrs. Hoopes had a trusty young ani- iff of Mahaska county, practiced in 
mal wiiich seemed to partake of her Fremont during the war, from whidi 
own resolute spirit, which she rode, place he moved to Denver, where he 
answering calls for eight or ten miles built up a lucrative practice. 

distant. She knew every Indian trail, 

cow path and ford in tne 'entire Dr. L. F. Ellsworth,of Mauch Chunk, 
neighborhood and alwasrs led the way came to Iowa in 1864 and for many 

—75— 



years was a practicing physician in old records as having perfected this 

the northwest part of the county. organization are as follows : J.P.'Smith, 

S. B. Rhin'ehart, F. W. Coolidge, G. 

Dr. Wm. Jarvis, of Ros'e Hill, began Elkins, S. H. Evans, C. H. Harrison, 

practicing in the east part of the C. B. McCabe, J. C. Macon, J. Y. Hop- 
county in 1847 and was a pioneer kins, Cyrus Bond and N. Henton. 
physician during most of the early Many of the older citizens will recall 
years. the laborious life of at Teast a part of 

these men who in their day did a large 

Dr. W- L. Crowder began practicing practice and served their generations 

in 1864 at Springfield, just across the wfell. The pioneers always speak with 
Keokuk county line. In 1876 ho locat- tender affection of the unselfish ser- 
ed at Rose Hill. In the course of his vices of the men whose names appear 
practice in thos'e years he recalled in this article. A noble physician is 
the unusual fact of having eleren a great factor in building up a corn- 
cases of fracture in a single we'ek fol- munity either new or old. He gets 
lowing a heavy fall of sleet. Dr. rery near to the heart and life of the 
Crowder has made Oskaloosa his people and is an unconscious builder 
home since 1884, and still keeps his of character as well as physical 
mind fresh by study and in th'e prac- health. There are doubtless names 
tice of his chosen profession. of other doctors of which the writer 

has no knowledge, who should be in- 

The first county medical association eluded in this list of pioneer physi- 

was organized in the year 1855. The clans, 
names of the men who appear on the 



—76- 



Chapter cHineteen 

The T<m)nships of Mahaska. County— Adams 

This township took its name from ter. The township has one hundred 

President Adams. The first surr-ey and forty-B^ine farms, w!hose Jands 

lines were made by William and Al- are valued at $233,066, with valu'e of 

vin Burt in July and August, 1843. personal property at $39,340, and a 

It originally formed a part of Monroe population of 1,000 persons, 
township but was re-surveyed by ri u- n u 

Deputy Surveyor Stiles S. Carpenter ^^^ °^'*" 

in October, 1847, and made an inde- Black Oak township was partly 

pendent township. surveyed in 1843 by U. -Si Surveyor 

The first justice of the peace in W. A. Burt and completed in 1843 by 

the township was Matthew P. Crow- W .L. D. Ewing, who afterwards be- 

dier,father of W. L. Crowder of Os- came governor of the state of Illi- 

kaloosa. The first school was taught nois. At an early day there is said 

by A. N. Atwoou in a cabin b'elong- to hare been a black oak grove on 

ing to Squire Crowder. sections 8, 9, and 16, from which the 

Among the old settlers were Gid- township took its name. It is water- 
eon Daughferty, William Vermilyea, ed by Muchakinock creek and Skunk 
A. Ruby, Adin McDonough, Joel Bri- river. This township originally be- 
ney, Adam Victor, Elijah Busby and longed to Jackson township, which 
the McLansborougli family. 'extended at one time as far north 

The first church in the township as Poweshiek county. 
was a Methodist organization form- C. Chipman taught the first school 

ed in the house of John Ruby in in the township and Dr. James H. 

1846. Warren held the first religious ser- 

ThQ village of Lacey, located on vices at his own home. Dr. Warren 

the Iowa Central railroad in the emigrated to Iowa from Ohio and 

western border of the township, has settled in Lee county in 1841. Com- 

an M. E. church, post ofllce, g'eneral ing to this county in 1843, he s'ettled 

store, a grain elevator, and forms in Black Oak township, being one of 

the center of an enterprising com- its earliest settlers. Those who 

munity. came with him up from Lee county 

The South Skunk rirev forms its were John B. Hamilton, Robert Ham- 
southern boundary and Middle Creek ilton, Harry Miller, Green T. Clark 
flows diagonally across the township and Henry McPherson. This com- 
toward the southeast. These two pany setem to have been "sooners," 
streams have favored quite an abun- or early comers, as the dragoons 
dant growth of timber and given the would not allow them to pass Liber- 
township an abundant supply of wa- tyville.the border of the N'ew Purchase, 

—77— 



with their teams until May first. 

They therefore left their wagons and 
families and pacljfed their horses 
with what they supposed was enough 
provisions to last them until May 
first. On the 26th of April they 
reached the prairie on which Pella 
is now located. Here they camped 
for a time, intending to stake off 
claims on that inviting highway, but 
after contemplating the subject for 
awhile they concluded, just like al- 
most all 6f the early comers, that it 
was too far from timber to be set- 
tled in many years, so they selected 
claims three mites to the southeast, 
nearer the timber lands. Their sup- 
plies running short, they sent Green 
T. Clark back to bring up the wag- 
ons. B'efore he had time to arrive 
they were entirely out of eatables 
and resorted to hunting in earnest, 
to supply their wants. One of two 
things they must do, find something 
to eat or starve. Rob'ert Hamilton 
concluded lie could befet succeed in 
finding a turkey and Henry Miller 
thought his quickest returns would 
be in locating a bee tree. Botu 
were successful. AddV3d to this 
piece of good fortune their "wagons 
and supplies came the next day. 

Dr. Warren returned to Mahaska 
county in 18*7. He was among the 
first ministers of the M. E. church 
in the county and he never tired in 
ministering to tte spiritual and me- 
dicinal wants of his large practice. 
He was especially successful In the 
management of miasmatic diseas'es. 
Those who were with him and shar- 
ed the privations of his pioneer life, 
loved him best. It is an enviable 
record for a man to make when his 
faurts are completv^ly hidden by his 
virtues. Such is the record of Dr. 
Warren as It has come down to us. 

Among the eoxly settlers in Black 



Oak township were John Gillespie, 
Wm., Jacob and John Majors, Aaron 
Folk, Richard Quinton, Wm. Ow«ins, 
Hfenry Groves, John Randall, Field- 
ing Betz, John Shcemake, Wesley 
Morieland and Jacob Miller. 

Deighton, a village located in the 
southeast part of th'e township, was 
laid out February 9, 1865. The town 
was named for William Leighton, 
who, with John W. Carver, were the 
projectors of the new villag'e, and at 
that time lesses of the Keokuk & 
Des Moines railroad, running through 
the place. It has never had a large 
growth, but furnishes a good mar- 
ket and trading point for the weal- 
thy community surrounding it. 

Black Oak has 163 farms, whose 
lands are valued at $276,143, with 
personal property valued at $63,913, 
and a population of 1,200 persons. 

Cedar. 

The township lines of Cedar town- 
ship were run by Alvin Burt in the 
fall of 1843. It is mostly prairie. 
There is some timber in the north- 
eastern part of the township and al- 
so along Cedar creek, which crosses 
the southwest corner of the town- 
ship, flowing to the southeast. When 
the writer first saw this part of the 
county, in 1865, it was an unbroken 
prairie, with scattered settlements. 
In crossing from Skunk river to Ed- 
dyville we traveled eight mil'es with- 
out passing a dwelling. It took 
many years for the settlers to learn 
that the rich prairie farms held the 
wealth of the land. 
Samuel McFall settled on Section 
11 in 1844 and built the first school 
house in 1846, wh'ere his nephew, 
Joseph McFall .taught a subscription 
school, the first in the township. 

In the spring of 1844 religious 
meetings were held In the house of 



-78— 



Samuel Barbae, near where the Con- didate of the republican party for 
c'ert M. E. church was afterwards president. Mr. Morrow built the first 
built in 1856 at a cost of $1,700. dwelling house and store building and 
This church has been the center of opened a stock of general merchan- 
active christian work for more than dise. Its postoffice was established 
a half century. The names of the in 1848 with its founder as postmaster, 
church officers at the time the Before the days of railroads Fremont 
building was erected were Joseph was quit'e an important town, being 
Paul, David Mills, John Zaring, located on the "divide" which was 
Gideon McFall, M. Kinsman, David then a well known and much traveled 
Beck, F. W. Lindstey, Thos. Paul highway for overland emigration as 
and Jas. Wright. The cturch was well as teaming and staging from the 
dedicated January 3, 1858, by Rev. river. In the fifties and early sixties 
Cowles of Oskaloosa. J. H. White operated a quite extensive 

William Morrow was the first jus-> saw mill in Fremont which contribut- 
tice of the peace in the township, ed much to the building up of that 
George Lentz, J. Q. Whife, Christian part of the county. Elisha Vance 
Wild, Nicholas Allend'er, Joseph and owned a large tan yard. In those 
Smith Aldridge, G. B. McFall and years merchants with general stocks 
their families were among the old were John Q. White, Chas. Adams.Sol- 
settlers. In 1855 Wright & Winnett omon Way, Lee & Cochran and Thorn- 
built and operated a quite extensive as Rankin. Simon Fels'enthal ran an 
steam flouring mill on the farm known exclusive clothing store, and Peter 
as the John Pugh place, northwest of Shopper was the druggist of the place. 
Fremont. John D. Cochran now "has Nicholas Allender, John B. Raines, 
the frame built into a barn. About Phillip Akerman and James Hodson 
ten years later the machinery of the were the blacksmiths. The latter add- 
mill was sold and removed to Wis- ed to his popularity as a workman by 
consin. making cow bells for the neighbor- 

Cedar, located on the C, B. & Q. hood. Fifty years ago the village 
road, in the w'est part of the township, blacksmith was looked to for a thous- 
is a growing village with good ship- and things which are now turned out 
ping facilities. It has a number of by machinery. 

fine homes. Jonathan Buzzard, Jacob Brown, 

Cedar township has 247 farms with George Lentz and Edwin Allen were 
lands valued at $254,651, and personal wagon makers, and the two cabinet 
property valued at $67,414, and a popu- makers were Jacob Goehring and 
lation of 1,800 persons. Christian Weil. Coffins were aJl mad'e 

Fremont. from native walnut lumber, because 

Fremont is one of the oldest vil- of its durability, and s'eMom kept in 
lages in the county. It was laid out stock, as now, but made to order. Ao- 
by Wm. Morrow in 1848, and named companying the order for a coffin was 
in honor of John C. Fremont, who the length of the corpse to be buried 
with a party of explorers on their way in feet and inches. The cabinet mak- 
westward in the late forties.had camp- er took his tools and rough lumber 
ed for a time at McEwen's Springs, a and worked night and day to have all 
mile north of Fremont. General Fre- in readiness for the early funeral, 
mont afterward became the first can- The first metallic burial case used 

-79- 



in the county was for Simon Felsen- thirty-one years. R. T. Nfewell, orna 
thai, who was disinterred some time of the esteemed citizens of Fremont, 
after burial and taken to Philadelphia, was born in Iowa in the year 1836. He 
Pa., in th'o year 1860. is the oldest citizen of Iowa in the 

We are told that during the war county, if not in the 'entire state. Fre- 
period business in l?remont was al- mont has four churches, Baptist,Chris- 
most paralyzed. With the coming of tian, Methodist Episcopal and Pnesby- 
the Iowa Central railroad in 1871, and terian. S. R. Canon relates that in 
the C, B. & Q. Bom'e years later, its the early years his brother, Wm. S. 
merchants have had a prosperous Canon, secured from Col. Jas. Thomp- 
tradje. Its present 'excelleint school son, of Fairfield, the contract for car- 
house was built in 1890. An exten- rying the w'eekly mail over one of tne 
sive tile factory is owned and operat- star routes of the perioti. The mail 
ed by Walter Dawson. for seven postoffices was carried in a 

The Fremont Gazette is the ably mail sack on horseback. Leaving 
edited newspap'er o- tne place. In the Fairfield the rider stopped at the fol- 
year 1902 a fire destroyed a good num- lowing postoffices: Brookvill'e, Abing- 
ber of frame business buildings in don, Marysville, Waugh's Point, — now 
the place. These were at once re- Hedrick, — Fremont, Cherry Grove, — 
placed by brick structures which hare south of White Oak in this county, 
added much to the substantial ap- and Oskaloosa. There was often not 
pearance of the town. Canon & Gunn more than a hat full of mail to distrib- 
began business in Fremont in 1873, ute. Almost no papers were taken, 
carrying a stock of general merchan- Fremont now has a population of 
dise and also doing a banking busi- about five hundred and fifty persona, 
n'ess. The partnership continued for 



-80— 



Chapter Twenty 

History of the Tofunshtps of Mahaska. County 

East Des Moines. scattered along MucTiakinock creek. 

Des Moines tov/nship is known in The dragoons, mostly on horseback, 
the surreys as Township 74, north w-'^re at that time patrolling the 
of Range 16, west of the 5th princi- country, just as the mounted police 
pal meridian. The township limes do in Canada at tnis time. It was 
were surveyed by Wm. A. Burt in their business to keep order in the 
August, 1843, and the sV3ction lines ^©w country, but especially to pre- 
by Wm. Dewey January, 1845. It ^^"^^ the whites from making th'elr 
took its name from the Des Moines way into the New Purchase before 
river, which runs across the town- May 1 ,1843, the date fixed by the 
ship diagonally toward the southeast government when all restrictions 
dividing it into two almost equal should be removed and every on© 
parts. From 1845 until 1885 it was who cared could have his choice of 
known on the county records as Des the rich lands. These men had doubt- 
Moines township. Ehpraim Munsell less been granted the liberty to come 
was elected the first clerk. In the into the country without their wag- 
latter year the territory on the east ons and learn something of the 
side of the river was organized un- choicest locations in the territory, 
der the name of East Des Moines, They carried their axes in their 
and that on the west as West Des knapsacks, and imptorvlsed hajidles 
Moines township. This division was when they were needed. On their 
made necessary by the river, which way up the river they passed a burn- 
formed such a barrier as to prevent ing wagon, which had been set on 
the citizens from effectual co-opera- fire by the dragoons for venturing to 
tion. tresspass on forbidden territory. It 

There is quite a growth of white was a pretty severe loss to some 
oak, walnut and cottonwood timber bold spirited fellow who hoped toes- 
along the bottoms of the Des Moines cape the vigilant and somewhat reek- 
river, less dragoons. These men were 

In point of settlement this town- well treated by the Indians, who 
ship was one of the very first. A kindly took them to a fine spring of 
party of six white men came into water and showed them about the 
that section on April 26, 1843. It country which they loved so well, 
was composed of Ephraim Munsell, With their hearts already breaking 
Isaac DeWitt, Harvey Case, Phillip to part with their humble homes 
Schuyler, Mr. Scribner and Harry and the dear old scenes of their 
Brewer. They found Indian huts childhood, yet they refused not to 

—81- 



make the newcomers happy. One father was wdrking about an old ireil 

r.>ght the men camped in the hollow near the home when t'e chanced to 

trunk of a large fallen tree. Some drop the bucket into the well and 

days later a number of the settlers went down to recover it. He was or- 

found temporary homes in the aban- ercome by the poisonous gases which 

doned Indian huts until they could had accumulated at the bottom. Mrs. 

build a claim cabin. Clayworth missed hter husband and 

John L. Hennis, Hollom Price, Dan- when she discovered his oonditl«ri,sho 
iel Downing and a Mr. Anderson were ^Iso descended into the well in the 
other settlers who had taken claims ^ope of rendering him some assist- 
up on Six Mile Prairie. Colonel Rose ^nce. There w^re several chiiaren in 
and John Dusenberry were located on ^^^ family, the oldest being but nine 
North Muchakinock, and on the South y^ars of age. They gave the alarm 
were the Benedict brothers, who haa to the neighbors and A. J. Baughman 
built a saw mill on the lower Mucha- undertook the perilous task of rescu- 
kinock in 1843 and had added a pair i^g th*e parents. Mrs. Clayworth was 
of corn crackers the next year. The still alive, and with sublime heroism 
mill was built in the simplest manner was holding her husband's head above 
and did the coarsest kind of work, water. Mi-. Baughman was not suffi- 
The burrs were made of the hani ciently overcome to prev^ent him res- 
stone found in th'e river bottom. The cuing both of them, but before they 
old settlers say there was a larger reached th'e upper air both were be- 
flow of water in Muchakinock creek y^^^ recovery. 

then than there is at this time, which East Des Moines township has ono 
was evidently true. Crude as was huadred and fifty-four farms whoso 
this old mill, settlers cam'e to it with value is $78,535, with personal proper- 
grists from beyond Fort Des Moines, ty to the value of $16,527. It has a 

The first justices of the peace were population of 900 persons. 
Holland Benedict and John Brown. Givin. 
Des Moines and Harrison formed a This village was laid out by Harry 
single precinct for holding th'e first Brewer in 1870 and so named in hon- 
election, which was held at the home or of John Givin, of K'eokuk, then su- 
of Col. Vance. The first school was perintendent of the K. & D. M. rail- 
taught on Six-Mile bottom about the road. The first store was built by 
winter of 1844 in a log cabin. The Mr. Brewer in that year. There was 
first school house was built by private a post office at this point as early as 
enterprise in 1848 and the school was 1862. Hiram Ethridge was the first 
taught by Advjlaide Schuyler. We postmaster. It was made a railroad 
have not been able to obtain any par- station in 1871. At the time that Giv- 
ticulars of this school except the in was laid out it was on land owned 
above fact. The timber along the riv- by Mr. Brewer. As stated above Har- 
er was an inviting retreat for game of ry Brewer was one of the very early 
all kinds, and many a reminiscent comers to this township and entered 
story is related of the hunting feats cnc hundred and sixty acres just east 
of the 'early days. A sad accident oc- of Givin on the hill where himself 
curred to a family by the name of and his god wife patiently wrought, 
Clayworth, who owned a home where raising their family and maintaining 
Much^Ttinock is now located. The a generous and orderly home. It was 

-82— 



an informal home but always having Muchakinock. 

an air of re|stful hospitality. Lake f]xe place took its name from the 
many such western homes it was creek on which it is located. The 
founded In the open-hearted pioneer ^ord means muddy water and is of 
spirit and so remained until both fath- Indian origin. It is now a mere vil- 
er and mother Were laid to rest in lage, but twenty-five years ago it 
Forest cemtery. The old farm is now ^^s the home of two thousand peo- 
owned and occupied by the youngest pje, mostly colored, who worked in 
son of the family, Harry A. Brewer. ^^^q ^oal mines. In 1873 the large 
The early settlers greatly dread'ed coal fields in this section cam'e into 
the venomous bite of the rattlesnake, the possession of H. W. and W. A. 
While there were comparatively few McNeill and under their management 
deaths resulting from its poison.when- reached an unexpected development. 
ever there was a victim the whole Between four and five thousand acres 
community held its breath until th'e of land lying in East Des Moines 
danger was past. Every family had and Harrison townships were mined, 
near at hand its home remedies to averaging the owners at least one 
counteract the poison until the ser- hundred dollars per acre without en- 
vices of a physician could be secured, tirely destroying the lands for farm- 
which ^as always done in the greatest ing purposes. Muchakinock was the 
possible haste. E. D. Brewer relates center of these operations. In 1881 
an instance which occurrea in his the stock of the coal company con- 
father's family. His brother George trolled by the McNeill brothers was 
chanced to have been bitten by one sold to the Chicago & Northewestern 
of these dreaded reptiles. His father Railroad company for $500,000. Thie 
at once saddled a spirited young horse, company extended a branch of its 
a favorite of the family, and riding to railroad from Belle Plaine into these 
John Harper's, his closest neighbor, coal fields and built a depot and rail- 
(neighbors in those days meant much way yards at Muchakinock. These 
more than it has come to mean in mining operations were a great 
these later years) he told Mr. Harper source of income to the people of Os- 
to bring a doctor in the fewest possi- kaloosa and Mahaska county because 
bl'e minutes, even if it cost the life of of the thousands of dollars that were 
his valient charger. Mr. Harper cov- continually changing hands in the 
ered the six miles to Oskaloosa in community. With the extension of 
just twenty minutes, and fortunately the road to Buxton and other coal 
found Dr. Rhinehart sitting in his bug- fields across the Des Moines river 
gy ready to make a call somewhere Muchakinock has almost ceased te 
in the country. He gave the doctor exist. 

the same message and in another West Des Moines. 

twenty minutes both were at the The settlement and history of this 
Brewer home. Whether by the skill township are closely connected with 
of the good doctor or the potency of East Des Moines because it has only 
the home remedies which had b'een ap- existed as a sfeparate organization 
plied in the meantime, or both, the- since 1885. Among its old settlers 
boy was saved. We doubt if our mar- are . A. Brundage, John B. Thomas, 
velous telephone could equal this rec- Henderson England, J. P. McCrea 
ord for swiftness. and John Taylor. 

—85— 



Recent years have brought grteat general stores, a blacksmith shop 
developments in the coal fi'eldB in and a lumber yard. The large rail- 
that part of the county. The North- road yards located h'ere require the 
western railroad has extended its constant services of three engines, 
branch as far west as Buxton, which The yards have eight or ten miles 
is a large mining center, almost of track and are still enlarging, 
wholly across Vbe line in Monroe 
county. This township has one hundred and 

Lakonta is the only post office in eleven farms, whose value is $109,- 

the township. It contains a popula- 957. The value of its personal prop- 

tion at present of about one hundred erty is $25,312, with a population of 

and fifty, but is growing. It has two 700. 



-84- 



Chapter Tibenty-One 

History of the ToTonships of Mahaska County 

Garfield. shaft at Beacon and quite a commun- 
Until 1882 this township was the ity sprang up. Th^y applied for a 
west half of Oskaloosa township and postoffice but were denied one because 
has been closely associated in its his- ot their nearness to Givin and Oska- 
tory with the life of the city. In that loosa. As Mr. Ethridge's interests 
year Spring Creek and Garfield town- were mostly at Beacon and it had the 
ships were created and Oskaloosa prospect of growing more rapidly, he 
township was confined to the city lim- decided to use his authority as post- 
its. Garfield township was named in master and without any consultation 
honor of James A. Garfield, the bril- or petition he went down to Givin one 
liant statesman, who was elected Sunday on a hand car and took the 
president of our Republic of states in postoffice effects from the home of 
1880. Robert Seevers, one of its pic- Harry Brewer, where it was kept, and 
neer farmers, was the first man to brought it up to Beacon. The Givin 
introduce Merino sheep and also to community reported the matter to the 
bring a herd of Short-Horn cattle to postoffice department and in a short 
the county. Henry Prine, S. L. Pom- time received a second commission 
eroy and W. T. Smith of this town- which deprived Beacon of an office, 
ship were among the progressive A second application to the depart- 
stock men of the county. Garfield ment from Beacon brought a reply 
has for years had large coal mining that their petition would be granted, 
interests. The township has two hun- but not under the name of Beacon, 
dred and thirty-five farms whose value because there was at that time an- 
with its town lots is $236,565. The other office by that name in the state, 
value of its personal property is |53,- This brings us to the year 1864 when 
149. It has a population of 1,800 per- the village and postoffice were found- 
gons. ^^ under the name of Enterprise, 
Beacon. which was changed some years after- 
ward to its present name. E. J. EJv- 
Beacon is a village located on sec- ans was the first postmaster. Beacon 
tion 27, two and one-half miles south- has been quite a business center in 
west of Oskaloosa, in Garfield town- the past. Since the mines have been 
ship. It was laid out in 1864 under worked out adjoining it, its popula- 
the name of Enterprise. On the com- tion has decreased. It has three 
pletion of the K. & D. railroad it was churches, several general stores and 
called Oskaloosa Station. About the good schools, with a population of 
year 1863 when Hiram Ethridge was good school, with a population of 
postmaster at Givin, he opened a coal about six hundred. 

-8S- 



Evans. 

Evans is located on Section 17, 
Muchaklnock creek. It was first call 
ed Blida, being the name of the coal 
company which first began opera 
tions there. When the postoffice was es 
tabKshed it was named for D. J. 
Evans, whose land was among the 
first to be mined. Mr. T. J. Evans was 
the first postmaster. The railroad 
men called it Knoxville Junction 
because of its being located at the 
crossing of the two roadjs leading 
north and west. Evans has been for 
years the center of the operations of 
the American Coal Company, which, 
until recently, was owned and oper- 
ated by W. A. McNeill. The popu- 
lation of the place Tias fluctuated with 
the coal development. 

Bolton, a new mining town on Sec- 
tions 30 and 31, has a population of 
several hundred workmen and bids 
fair to become quite a village. It 
took its name from Mr. J. B. Bolton, 
the originator of the enterprise. 
Harrison. 

Harrison is one of the four town- 
ships in the southern tier of the 
county. It was laid out by Alvin and 
Wm. A. Burt in June and August, 
1843, and its section lines were run 
by Grovernment Surveyor Geo. Wil- 
son In the winter of the following 
year. It was named for General 
William H. Harrison, who was elect- 
ed president of the United States in 
1840 by the Whigs. He had livBd 
among the pioneers of the west for 
more than forty years and was loved 
by the western people. His party 
adopted the log cabin as their sym- 
bol. It was an extremely exciting 
campaign and quite demoralizing on 
acount of the large quantities of 
cider and other liquors which were 
drank at the rallies. This drinking 
was intended to symbolize the pio- 
neer hospitality of the old hero, but 
many a young man dated the begin- 
ning of his intemperate lite to the 
hard cider revels of that campaign. 

This township has but little tim- 
ber, its rich soil consisting mostly 



of rolling prairie. The boundaries 
of the township fixed in 1844 have 
been unchanged. The first elections 
were held at the home of Samuel 
Tilbets. The first white man's cabin 
ever built in the county vas located 
in the south part of Harrison. 

Of the large number of settlers In 
the early forties but few remain. R. 
W. Moore of Cedar la perhaps the 
only man now living in the township 
who was here in 1843. His father, 
J. F. Moore, staked out his claim In 
that year. James Spurlock, Jesse 
Newell, Samuel Cole.father of Dr. D. L. 
Cole, and J. D. White are all spoken 
of as men whose lives and influence 
are still at work in that community. 
They had some ability as religious 
teaciiers and kept up meetings in 
their own and other neighborhoods, 
affording regular gatherings for the 
settlers, and trained their neighbors 
to the highest and best citizenship. 
Mahlan Thomas and his brother, 
Benjamin, were also here in 1843. 
Dr. Ross, who lived some miles east 
of Eddyville, is remembered as a 
useful man in the early years. 

The first school house was built on 
the Jesse Newell farm and Thomas 
Ross, a brother of the doctor, 
taught the first school, in 1846. He 
served also as township clerk. Each 
settler contributed his share of the 
logs and work to put up the school 
house, which soon came to be used 
as a church. It was called the New- 
ell school house. In the early fifties 
James Allison bought out Jesse New- 
ell, who went to Jefferson county, 
Kansas, and founded Oskaloosa, Kan- 
sas, which is now the county seat 
of that county. Families were train- 
ed in that school who went to make 
new homes in different parts of the 
west. Its Bucessor is now known as 
Round Top school. 

Wm. H. Buffington, Joseph Funk, 
Silas and William Scott, Franklin 
Wall and T. R. Gilmore (afterwards 
state senator) came into the town- 
ship a little later, on the west side 
of the township were Samuel Vance, 



-86- 



Bujtler Delashmutt, Wm. Frederick, disaster which shocked the entire 

D. D, Miller, M. M. Davis and others, state occurred on the farm of Wm. 

A full grown bear was killed on G. Briggs on the morning of August 

the Wm. Frederick place by Delash- 12, 1871. A coal shaft had been dug 

mutt and Frederick in the early a few hundred yards below the 

years. In the battle for its life the house. It was thirty-two feet deep 

bear killed one of Delashmutt's fa- and eight feet square, a ladder lead- 

vorite huntnig dogs, much to the ing down to the bottom of the shaft, 

chagrin of the old hunter. The water which accumulated in the 

Cedar chapel was built in 1869 opening was used for stock water 
and the post office established in and drawn by a bucket with horse 
1873. R. W. Moore was the first power. Two sons of Briggs, Mahlon, 
postmaster and gave the village its aged eighteen and Charles, aged ten, 
name. Some years later, when went out to the shaft on this morn- 
Wright station began to grow, therfe ing to water the stock. While they 
was an effort made to move the Ce- were tnere a neighbor boy named 
dar poet office to Wright. When Mr. Jimmie Cowden came along looking 
Moore and others learned of the for some stray hogs, and was assist- 
move they circulated a petition for ing them. The water was quite low 
the establishment of an office at in the shaft and the bucket failing 
Wright and recommended the name to fill as usual, Charles, the younger 
to the post office department because boy, was sent down to fill it by dip- 
of the number of persons by that ping. He had only reached the bot- 
name In the community. The re- tom of the shaft when he called to 
quest was granted and J, A. Bait- his brother that he was suffocating, 
sell was made postmaster. and Mailin went immediately to his 

Wright is located in the corners of rescue, put his brother in the buck- 
four townships and is in the center et, got in himself and called to the 
of an intelligent community. boy to draw them up, which he did 

Pekay and Lxjst Creek, in the at once, with the aid of the horse, 
south part of the county, are mining But just as the bucket was approach- 
camps of varying population and ac- ing the top with its precious burden 
tivity. The latter place is operated young Cowden noticed Mahlan grow 
by the Lost Creek Fuel company and faint ,and losing his hold, he fell to 
is ten miles soutneast of Oskaloosa. the bottom. Charles was raised out. 

On January 24, 1902, there occur- but insensible. The boy then called 
red an explosion in one of the shafts, to Wm. G. Briggs, the father, who 
which killed twenty and wounded was within hearing distance. He 
fourteen men. It was the greatest ran to the shaft and down the lad- 
catastrophe that nas ever occurred der, perhaps only thinking there had 
in the annals of the mining industry been an accident. Seeing his mis- 
in Iowa. take, he started out but was orer- 

The explosion was produced by a come and fell into the water. Young 

shot fired by Andrew Pash in room Cowden then ran acr<»s a field more 

No. 10 at Mine No. 2. He was than half a mile to where there was 

among the dead. A fund of almost a threshing crew, to give the alarm, 

three thousand dollars was shortly On his way he met Anna Briggs, a 

afterward raised by special donations fourteen-year-old daughter, rimning 

for the widows and orphans who to the shaft, and warned her not to 

were left penniless and homeless by descend into the shaft. But while he 

this fatal accident. was gone the girl shared the fate of 

Harrison township is rich in coal the father and brother. George 

beds and several tragedies have oc- Briggs, a brother of William G. 

curred in the mining districts. A Briggs, was the first to reach the 

-87^ 



mouth of the pit, and being confident snufffed out inside of perhaps forty 
of his ability to do wtiat he had done minutes — almost an entire family, 
many times before, descended the Mr. Briggs had represented Mahaska 
ladder to his death. Edward Grier, county in the state legislature and 
an Irishman who had worked in the was a man of more than ordinary 
family for four years, arrived with usefulness and ability, 
the crowd a little later and could Harrison township has 336 farms, 
not be dissuaded from going down, whose value is $290,978. The value 
The crowd wanted to tie a rope of personal property is $59,705. The 
around him, but in the excitement corporate limits of the city of Eddy- 
he would not wait, and shared the ville extend across the county line 
fate of those whom he had tried to into this township, adding about one 
reecue. Grappling hooks were ob- hundred to its population, making 
tained as soon as possible and the the population of the entire township 
bodies raised. Six lives had been 1.600. 



-88— 



Chapier Tiventy ^Jtfo 

History of the To'wnshtps of Mahaska County— Jefferson. 

This township was surveyed as a from the wheat, when the breeze was 
township and divided into sections by not sufficiently strong to do that 
Wm. Dewey in the winter of 1844-45. work. Ttis fanning mill was a great 
Although we have no definite knowl- boon in the neighborhood, 
edge as to the origin of the name, it The first school was taught by Mr. 
is generally conceded that this town- Geo. W. Baer, on section three in a 
ship was named for Thomas Jefferson, log schucl house. It was a subscrip- 
the third president of the United tion school, and taught about 1846. 
States, the author of our decimal sys- .Jefferson township had rich lands and 
tem on coinage and the writer of the grew in population rapidly. Among 
Declaration of Independence. It is the the settlers who came later were 
southwest corner township, and was Robert Wharton, who has been school 
for a number of years after its settle- treasurer of the townshrip for forty 
ment isolated by the Des Moines riv- years; Horace Lyman, P. G. Butler, 
er. Moses Knowles,Hiram Covey and John Way, John Eveland, Henry Eve- 
E. Flanders were among the first set- land, J. H. Evans. A. Rogers, Nelson 
tiers in Jefferson. They came in Cone and Emanuel Hites. Besides 
April, 1843, and each staked off his the Des Moines river, Coal Creek,Blufl 
claim on the memorable first day of Creek and other small streams afford 
May of that year. For several years a good water supply. In April, 1843, 
they reached Oskaloosa, the nearest just prior to the opening of the new 
postoffice, by swimming their horses purchase, Edward Davis and his eldest 
across the river and taking the wagon son, coming from Illinois, crossed the 
and its load across in a canoe. Mr. Des Moines river near where Eddy- 
Knowles introduced the first fanning ville is now located, and camped for 
mill into the county, having it brought a time at the mouth of the first creek 
up the river from Keokuk by boat, fiowing into the Des Moines on the 
For a number of years the settlers west side of the river. On account of 
did not aim to raise any grain but its high bluffs, they named it Bluff 
corn. When wheat became a part of Creek. Going some miles further he 
the annual crop it was treaded out by discovered coal in the bed of the sec- 
horses on the threshing floor, or beat- ond creek, which they called Coal 
en out wifh the flail in the hands of Creek. Reconnoitering still further 
the hardy frontiersman, and cleaned north along the river, they came to a 
by pouring out the grain while the third small stream which, from the 
rapid motion of a sheet in the hands cedar trees growing on its banks, was 
of two women winnowed the chaff called Cedar Creek. These streams 

—89- 



have always borne the names given 
them in that early day. Mr. Davis de- 
termined to locate on Bluff Creek, and 
returnied to its banks and awaited the 
opening day. Before the day had 
dawned he had staked off two hundred 
acres of land which became his home 
while he lived. Like many of the 
pioneers, the attachment to the farm 
became so strong that himself and 
wife could think of no spot more love- 
ly to them, and chose to be buried in 
the soil that had nourished them in 
their lifetime. 

Simon Covey, a son of Hiram Covey, 
was fifteen years of age when he came 
and is now living in Oskaloosa. He 
recalls many interesting reminis- 
cences of frontier life. In 1845 his 
father and A. Flanders took a raft of 
logs down the Des Moines river to 
Bonaparte to replenish their supply 
of flour and meal. He was sent over- 
land with a two-wheeled cart and an 
ox team to bring back the proceeds 
of the venture. The home supply of 
food was very short, and before he got 
to his destination his keen young ap- 
petite had devoured the last morsel, 
leaving him to make the last day's 
journey on an empty stomach. Ac- 
cording to the custom of the time, he 
jogged on without thinking much 
about so common a thing as running 
short of something to eat, until about 
noon a fellow traveler shared his din- 
ner with him. They brought back 
with them as the proceeds of the sale, 
sixteen bushels of corn meal and two 
hundred pounds of flour. Mr- Covey 
says that both his father and mother 
■were teachers in New York, their na- 
tive state, and his mother taugh^ the 
first school in Scott township, at 
Rochester. Their home was only a 
short distance across the river, and 
she took her children with her for the 
day, crossing the river in a canoe. 



She gave her family a fair education 
around the home fireside. Mrs. A. 
Flanders is still living with her daugh- 
ter, Mrs, Daniel Mattox, on the home 
farm which her husband staked out 
on May 1, 1843. 

Mining interests in Jefferson town- 
ship have received a wonderful impe- 
tus in the last few years. Buxton, a 
mining camp of four or fiv^ thousand 
people, lies mostly across the line in 
Monroe county, but has several hun- 
dred of its population in this county. 
The Durfee mining camp, on sections 
19 and 20, has a population of between 
three and four hundred; White City 
has five hundred; the Cricket mines 
have one hundred and fifty, and the 
Eveland mines about the same popula- 
tion. These mining camps vary in the 
number of their population as the de- 
mand for workmen is slow or active. 

The township has 191 farms whose 
value is $217,923, and personal proper- 
ty to the value of $60,307. Its popula- 
tion as last reported by the county 
auditor was 2,400. 

Lincoln Township. 

Lincoln township includes a territo- 
ry outside of the city of Oskaloosa. 
The line marking its bounds extends 
in a somewhat zigzag form about the 
city, taking in several sections from 
the northeast corner of Garfield. It 
was created for the convenience of the 
property holders adjoining the city 
limits. It is scarcely necessary to 
mention that this little township bears 
tne name of the great freedom-loving 
Lincoln. It has a population of five 
hundred, with 115 farms, whose value 
is $83,626. The value of its personal 
property is $69,527. 

Madison Township. 

The township lines were run by the 
government surveyors In 1843, and the 
section lines four years later. This 



—90— 



township received Its name from was in operation at this place before 

James Madison, who was the nation's the grist mill started, and it is gen- 

chitef executive during the War of erally conceded did the first work of 

^^^2. that kind in the county. A quarter of 

The south fork of the Skunk river a century ago it was counted a fine 

divides the township into North and piece of property. Of later years it 

South Madison, The south part of has not aspired to do so extensive a 

the township was settled first. Sam- business. It is now owned by J. S. 

uel ColHn, Jerry Libbey, Greenberry Whitmore. 

Coffin Simon Johnson Benjamin ^he people of North Madison havB a 

Crispm. Wm. Windsor Enoch Shoe- g^^d shipping point in the village of 

make and John Padgett w^re among Lacey on the Iowa Central railroad. 

r^^ ^J f settlers south of the river, j^^^ ^.^css the township line Mrs. 

The district north of the river was Helen Bailey, a daughter of Simeon 

for many years a hunting ground, j^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ township in 

John and Robert Mitchell, Milton ^g^^^ ^^^ ^^j^^^^ ^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^ 

Crookham and a few others had ^.^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^.^ ^^^j ^^^^I^. 

things their own way for jears. on ^^^^ ^^^ .^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ 

he nor h bottom. As alneady stated, ^^.jy y^^,,, ^^^ g^.j ^^.^^ ^^^.^^^ 

the first school in Madison township j^ Madison township in sight of the 

was taught by Wm. Laurance, in his ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ occupied by her fath- 

own claim cabin. Like all of the ^,,3 ^^^^jy gj^^ ^^^ ^^.^^ ^^ .^^^jj.. 

early schools it was a subscription g^^^ observer, not only of her own 

school but well ordered and effective, neighborhood, but of the great west 

A spelling school in those days was ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ .^ ^^^ ^ ^jj^^,. 

counted a greater luxury than an ^^^^ ^hesfe personal observations 

^^mu^ Z,.l^ . X,-. X r x^ and recollections are the very best 

The settlers m this part of the coun- j^^^^erial of which history is made, 
ty are said to have attended the land 

sales at Iowa City, going on foot in . Monroe Township, 
companies and bands together under 

the club laws for protection. '^^^^ township is named for the au- 

From the earliest period there has ^^°^ °^ ^^^ Monroe Doctrine, and 

bteen a deep religious sentiment ^^ ^^^ seventh of our townships which 

among the people of South Madison. ^^^ named for presidents of the Unit- 

In some instances extreme and radical ^^ States. 

views have been taught. Among the first settlers were Jacob 
The Duncan & Peck mill started in Johns, James Bridges. Henry Wymore. 
this township in 1843, and its wheels William Kimberly, John Baker and 
have been kept moving almost con- Thomas Linsleyt Jacob Johns is 
stantly ever since. Sixty-two years is said to have been the first man to 
a long period to have furnished bread break the soil. He located on See- 
to the children of men who have come tion thirteen in the southeastern part 
within its circle. Few if any mills in of thfe ownship, and soon made for 
the county have contributed so much himself a good farm, which he en- 
to its civilization and comfort. This joyed for many years. All of the pi- 
mill is spoken of by all tlie old set- oneers unite in saying that they 
tiers as the "Upper Mill." A saw mill never spent happier days than in the 

-91- 



comfortable old cabins of the early 
years. 

North Skunk river runs diagonal- 
ly southeast across the township, 
and Middle creek along the southern 
boundary. The township is well wat- 
ered and timbered but has no rail- 
road. 

The first school of which we have 
any record was taught by Henry Mc- 
Millan in the winter of 1852. Like 
all the schools of that period, it was 
a subscription school. The town'ship 
now has nine schools. The Spring 
Valley school, on Section 21, is the 
handsomest and best equipped school 
in the county. There are also many 
fine homes and well kept farms. 

Indianapolis. 

This village was laid out by Willis 
Baker in 1845. Mr. Baker named it 
for the capital of his native state, In- 
diana. James Bridges opened the 



first store in the place, bringing the 
goods from Burlington. He was the 
first postmaster. Mr. Bridges secur- 
ed a land warrant in Indiana for 
$112.50, and turned it in on his 160- 
acre claim. Land warrants issued to 
the soldiers of 1812 were quite plenti- 
ful and could be had at very moder- 
prices. Mr. Bridges says that so 
hungry were the settlers for a trad- 
ing point that he sold half his stock 
the day they were unboxed. 

Up to twenty-five or thirty years 
ago Indianapolis was an attractive 
country village. The decline came 
when business went to the railroads. 
It still maintains good schools and 
churches and is the center of a 
thoughtful people. The township 
has a population if 1,000; has 209 
farms, whose value is $241,614. The 
value of its personal property is 
$41,801. 



-92— 



Chapter Twenty-Three 

History of the ToTvnships of Mahaska. County 

Pleasant Grove. of the township, was laid out in the 

This township was surveyed about last named yiear by David San tee. It 

the same time as the other town- furnished a home market and trading 

ships of the county, but not settled place for the community until in re- 

until 1850. cent years the coming of the C, R. 

Amos Holloway, S. Whitaker, Noah I. & P. railroad across the northea-st 

Van Winkle, William Hambleton, corner of the township changed toe 

John Wymore, John Wyatt, John center of business to Barnes City. 

Whitaker and Benjamin Murrey were This village has an excellent school 

among its early settlers. These men, building, which, with its well ordered 

witb their families, camB from Ohi«- t-chools, is the pride of the place. It 

and Indiana. After they had erected contains about three hundred popu- 

cabins for themselves they proce.d- lation and is well represented with 

ed to provide churches and schools churches and commercial interests, 

for the growing settlement. T le Grat The township contains one nun- 

<5chool was taught by Richard Aiay- died and ninety farms, whose value 

berry. This school was a private eu- is $223,560 and its personal property 

terprise, but two years later the f\i> value is $47,909. It has a popula- 

tricts were organized under tas law tion of about 1,000 persons, 

and three school houses were built. Prairie Township. 

iThe township now has eight modern This township was origin<*lly & part 

pchool houses outside of Barnes City, of Madison township and was uc* 

The township was named from a separately organized until 1856. Il 

fine grove of timber which it con- received its name from the fact that 

tained. Coal and limestone are its there was almost no timbei at al' on 

mineral products. The northern and its rich, rolling prairies. For tfcat 

eastern portions of the township are reason it was among the last town- 

mostly prairie. North Skunk river ships to be settled and organizea. 

runs across the southwest corner, i«.3 homes and farms are now amo i^ 

and by its tributaries the lands are the most valuable in the coirt;, 

well watered and drained. Middle creek originates in Frairie 

Dr. Fisher is said to have conduct- township and drains almost its eu- 

ed the first religious services in the tire surface. It ha'^ no 'ock quacie/? 

township, which resulted in the or- or r.oal deposits, 

ganization of a Christian church in The first settler was John Hil .:. a. 

1854. hai. blooded negro, who settled r-a 

Agricola, a village near the center Pection 3 in 1844. A i-na^^ named 

-93— 



Vv'»'lace came next from ndiana In 
'^45 Alexander Stewart Tiovea from 
Pennsylvania in 1847, livirr aione 
lij^ one year in his claim cabin be- 
fcie his family joined aim. A. C 
Doze came in 1848. Other settlers 
followed, locating mostly in the 
i-.-.thern sections. 

' he first school house .vas built in 
1856 in the center of Section 3, and 
Jesse Ballinger taught the first 
school. The first sermon is said to 
have been preached in the same year 
at the home of Levi Stewurt, by John 
Curry, a Baptist minister. 

As the demand for public lands 
grew the township became the home 
of enterprising farmers who had 
learned the value of good prairie 
lands. 

The village of Taintor is located 
on Section 6, on the Newton branch 
of the Iowa Central railroad, and af- 
fords a trading point and market for 
the farmers of a rich section of 
country. 

The twonship has 194 farms, whose 
valuation is $397,041. Personal prop- 
erty amounting to $142,190. The en- 
tire population is 2,600. 

New Sharon. 

This town was platted July 22, 1856 
and is located on Sections 13 and 14. 
After some searching for a suitable 
name, it was decided that the name 
of the postoffice should be Sharon. 
When it was found that Warren 
county already had an oflBce by that 
name New Sharon was recommended 
to the post oflBlce department and was 
accepted by all as the name of the 
town. 

Edward Quaintance erected the 
first building in 1856 and James Win- 
der the second, in which he opened 
the first store for general merchan 
dise in 1S57. 



Mr. H. J. Vail, the editor anl 
founder of the New Sharon Star hvm 
written a quite complete bistory of 
Prairie township, from which w^e 
quote : 

"The growth of the town was de- 
cidedly slow until the years of spec- 
ulation, as one of the natural results 
of the Civil war, which was inaug- 
urated in this country in 1860. Grad- 
ually it developed until the close of 
the war, when the spirit of enter- 
prise and speculation that was swell- 
ing every avenue of our commercial 
system with unhealthy vigor, pushed 
it rapidly forward. In 1870 the pros- 
pect for the early completion of the 
Central railroad of Iowa through the 
town was so flattering that the at- 
tention of enterprismg men in vari- 
ous parts of the country was direct- 
ed thereto, and as a result the popu- 
lation of the town increased by hun- 
dreds. Like all other towns. New 
Sharon reached a point when a too 
rapid growth necessarily received a 
check. Between the years of *72 and 
'76 she added more than 400 to her 
population through emigration alone 
and could boast of about 900 inhab- 
itants." 

New Sharon was incorporated in 
1871, the first election being held on 
October 4th of that year. H. M. For- 
ney was elected mayor. A Prohibi- 
tion ordinance was the first act pass- 
ed by the council, and the citj hag 
always maintained a clean record on 
the liquor question. 

The city has had two jevera firos 
in its history, one April, ZJ, 1876, in 
which the damage amounted to $30.- 
000, and another Dec. . *., I856, re- 
sulted in a loss of $16,000. 

It is a good trading point, being 
well represented in the various lines 
of business. It has an Diectric light 
plant, a good system of wat:>r works. 



—94— 



substantial business builrJ:..gs "anO however, -went to Duncan's mill, 

elegant homes. where a register was kept of each 

Its present population is 1,300, and grist and applications for grinding 

a large per cent of them are church- were waited on in the order in 

going people. The denominations which their names appeared on the 

represented are Friends, Methodist, record. It is said that work was 

Episcopal, Christian, Presbyterian thus engaged for two or more weeks 

and Baptist. for a constant run day and night. 

They have a fine school building This scarcity of mills, however, was 
and employ the best talent in their only temporary. The Robert War- 
teaching force. ren mill was built on South Skunk 

Richland rownship. [^ the southwest portion of the 

township and did a good business in 

Richland is in the northwest cor- its day. 
ner of the county. The name was Near the center of the township 
suggested by Wm. Laurance,, who the village of Peoria is located. It 
came iu 1843, because of the product- was laid out May 21, 1853, by Theo- 
iveness of its soil. Its section linps dric Spain on land owned by him- 
Tf-^re run in 1845 by James Grant self, George Westlake and Sanford 
who afterwa- i3 occame a leading at- Haines. The Hollanders have ab- 
torney, a district ii.dfot, and a mau sorbed almost everything in that part 
of wealth. In the draft of his sur- of the township. There is a Method- 
veys among the county records are ist and Christian church, but they 
found located the claim of George -have fallen into decay for want of 
Buckley, who was the first settler in support. The best farm lands are in 
the township, and built the first the northern and eastern portions of 
cabin about one mile west of the the township. The southwestern por- 
town of Peoria. tion is broken and covered with tim- 

J. E. Godby, L. Miller, J. James, ber. There are excellent quarries ot 
Thomas Baldwin, Moses Wasson, L. building stone near Peoria. From 
Osborn, Foweii Bush and "Wm. Laur- these quarries some fifty years ago 
ance are among the first settlers, jasper county obtained stone to build 

Moses Wasscn w?- the first ju'?- a court house. Granville, located on 
tice of the township, Laving Doea section 1, was also laid out by Theo- 
elected in 1846. dric Spain. It served as a neighbor- 

The first school in the townsMp hood trading place in the early years, 
■was taught by Miss Mary Westlaiic but the business has gone to the rail- 
In 1847 in a log cabin belonging to roads. Richland township now has 
T. Baldwin. The second was con- ten schools. At least half of its pop- 
ducted by Warren Lathrop. ulation are Hollanders who are 

The M. E. church in Peoria, built among its best citizens. It has two 
in 1856, was the first church. The hundred and twenty-two farms whose 
first services, however, were held in value is $218,060, and personal prop- 
Westlake's cabin some time prior to erty to the value of $48,991. Its last 
the building of the church. reported population waB 1,200. 

The very early settlers went to Union 

Whistler's mill, southeast of Sigour- 
ney, on North Skunk. A majority. When this township was first 

-95- 



formed it comprised five congressional village was laid out by Jacob Wel- 
townships, viz.: Union and Pleasant mer in 1849, and called Middletown, 
Grove in Mahaska, and Union, Jack.- on account of Its being about half 
son and Deep River in Poweshiek way between Montezuma and Oska- 
county. Hence its name. In the loosa. Later the village took the 
organization of Poweshiek county the name of the mills which were built 
last three townships went with it, by Mr. Weimer and C. Brolliar. Sev- 
and Pleasant Grove was organized in eral stores sprung up and flourished 
January, 1850, leaving Union the or- on account of the patronage at the 
dinary sized township containing mills. At one time there was a card- 
thirty-six square miles and known as ing mill and a chair factory attached 
township No. 77 north of range 15 to the mills. A postoffice was estab- 
west of the 5th Principal Meridian, lished in 1855. The old mill and the 
The township lines were run by Al- village are things of tlie past. The 
vin Burt in July, 1843, and the sec- abundant timber lands were inviting 
tion lines by Stiles C. Carpenter in for wild game in the early y^ars. 
October, 1847. The North Skunk riv- Mrs. David Kiser recalls many pleas- 
er runs diagonally across the township ant memories of the log cabin days, 
from the northwest. Except in the One afternoon while sitting at her 
southern sections the country is cabin window she saw a herd of deer 
somewhat broken and was originally pass quietly by and out into the 
covered with timber. There are, how- rangie. Like most of the pioneers the 
tevier, very few farms that are not good lady resolutely clings to the old 
rich and productive. The very first home place wtiere herself and her 
settlers were John Morrison, Jacob husband spent their happiest days and 
Klinker and Jesse Moore. Among from which the family have gone out 
those who came a little later were to found homes of their own. We are 
Jno. and James Widows, Nathan told that some where back in the late 
Brown, Jacob Dalby and Isaac N. forties three young men lost their 
Grifiith near the county line, and lives during a flood in the river, and 
further south were the Bradshaws, these wene among the first who were 
John Graham, Robert Telford, John buried in the beautiful cemetery 
Deardorf, David, James and Reuoen grounds near Union Mills. 
Kiser.Daniel Rodgers,John McMaines, Some thirty years ago James 
Benj. Groves, Anderson James, Fred Stiles Chew and others were 
Weimer and others. instrumental in purchasing Beth- 
The books of original entry among el Grove, located on See- 
the county records show that the first tion 11, and having it deeded to the 
lands purchased from the government M. E. church forever for camp meet- 
in this township were the following: ing purposes. A chapel has been 
October 9, 1848, by Simeon Johnson, erected on the ground and the place 
a part of Sec. 1. Same date, by R. serves as an inviting gathering place 
B. Ogden, a part of Sec. 4. October for the neighborhood. Since its pur- 
12, by Joshua Gorsuch, a part of Sec. chase the community has changed, 
11. Same date, Robert Telford pur- and but few members of that church 
chased Section 12. The first school remain, but the t^rms of the deed are 
was taught by Mrs. Fry, on Section unalterable and as long as there is 
11, and the next at Union Mills. Tliis someone to see that the ta^x Ib paid, 

-96- 



it must remain the property of the tion of this church was formed here 
church who first accepted it. There back in the sixties by N. E. Cory, 
is a good M. E. church on Section 33, Union township has 225 iatms 
known as the Fairview church. The whose value is $231,404, with personal 
neat frame church standing on the property valued at $54,819. Its pop- 
eminence at "Union Mills belongs to ulation is 1,200. 
tue Christian church. An organiza- 



Chapter Twenty-Foar 

History of the 7 o<Tvnships of Mahaska. County — Scott, 

As originally surveyed, Scott town- first school in the township at Roches- 
ship was a full congressional town- ter. The house was a well built 
ship, but in more recent years almost 'Structure for its day and served the 
thfe entire southern tier of sections district for several generations, 
which are south of the Des Moines Among the very early settlers in 
river have been set off into Jefferson this township were Dr. E. A. Boyer, 
township. It is known on the surveys Van B. Delashmutt, Jacob H. Major-s, 
as No. 75 north of 17 west of the 5th John Majors, Joseph Tally, R. Gar- 
principal meridian. The Des Moines den, John Thompson and J. E. Utter, 
river cuts off the southwest corner of There were numerous settlements 
the township. Along the river in the along the river from the very first. 
southwest portion it is somewhat In the summer of 1843 when every- 
rough and there is an excellent growth thing was new and wild and occa- 
of walnut, white oak and other tim- sional bands of Indians were passing 
bers. In the north and west are undu- through the country, several families 
lating prairies, rich and productive, after locating their claims built their 
Dr. E. A. Boyfer, one of the very earli- cabins on Dr. Boyer's place in a circle 
est settlers in the township, sold $12,- for better protection and lived in 
000 worth of black walnut lumber common for the first year or two. 
from his river lands on the Des They called their settlement "the 
Moines. When the township was or- Phalanx." Of this, primitive com- 
ganized it was named Jackson by the munity we have the name of Dr. Boy- 
county commissioners. In the elec- er, a man by the name of Norton, 
tion of 1852 when Scott and Pierce John Pope and two single men.George 
ran for president, the township cast a and John Rose. There were doubt- 
solid vote for the Mexican war veter- less others whose names have not 
an. When making the election re- come down to us. During the first 
turns to the county officials. Dr. Boyer years there was abundance of game 
requested that the name of the town- along the river. Dr. Boyer was a 
ship be changed to that of Scott, not hunter of that period, always keeping 
appreciating the democratic name, choice hunting dogs and a spirited 
When asked for the petition he called horse for the chase. During the first 
attention to the solid vote in his re- year he shot ninety-three wolves. Mr. 
turns. The board so accepted the R. I. Garden, of Tracy, has done valu- 
election returns and granted his re- able service in quite a number of well 
quest. Mrs. Hiram Corey taught tHe written descriptive letters of the ear- 

—98— 



ly history of Scott township. He is 
the son of the pioneer R. Garden and 
has bfeen an interested observer of 
its growth and development from the 
beginning. Of the old town of 
Belief ountaine Mir. Glardfen writes: 
"The first town in Scott ownship was 
laid out at Talley's Ford, on the west 
bank of the Des Moines river, by 
Nathan Gregory and Ezra H. This- 
sell August 24, 1846. The first log 
cabin erected wag by Ezra Thissell, 
with a log shed addition. One room 
was a residence and the addition for 
a store room. Mrs. Malinda Thissell 
was the first woman to live in the 
town and to her was givfen the honor 
of naming the town, which she nam- 
ed Bellefountaine, that being the 
name of a town in Ohio near wliich 
she had resided before moving to 
Iowa. 

Thissell opened a grocery store, 
which was a big boom for the settle- 
ment. It is not generally known, but 
true, that when the Fifth General as- 
sembly, which convened at Iowa City 
on December 4, 1854, passed an act 
to relocate the state capitol, that 
when the first ballot was taken on a 
new location, Bellefountaine came 
within one vote of being the choice 
and securnig the location." 

Doubtless this vote was influenced 
by the 1 arge calculations, then 
thought to be perfectly feasible, of 
making the Des Moines river a nav- 
igable stream the year round by 
means of a system of dams and 
locks at different places along its 
course. Rochester had been selected 
a* the point in this county where 
there was to be built a succes- 
sion of dams for slack water 
purposes and locks through which 
the boats might pass with an abund- 
ant '<3upply of water. 



Bellefountaine had a hotel and sev- 
eral general stores in its more pros- 
perous years, but necessarily retro- 
graded with the coming of the rail- 
roads. 

In the year 1846 Jospeh Lally built 
and operated a ferry boat at the new 
village for the accomodation of west- 
ward travel. Prior to this time all 
transportation of travelers with 
their wagons and goods was made 
with a skiff and the horses or oxen 
swam the stream. This ferry boat 
was operated by means of poles and 
oars for some time, when it was 
changed into a rope ferry. 

One of the clearest headed pio- 
neers we have consulted states that 
the first appropriation for a highway 
made in Mahaska county was made 
by Judge Crookham in the early fif- 
ties for a rope to be used on the 
tsellefountaine ferry. 

The village of Rochester, further 
down the river, was laid out by John 
Wriglit on October 26, 1850. About 
this time there was a great air line 
railroad route projected from Mus- 
catine through Iowa, known as 
the Mississippi & Missouri River 
railroad. In its survey through 
Mahaska county it was to cross 
the Des Moines river at Ro- 
chester. There was a good boat 
landing and quite a good country 
trade at its stores. In the late fif- 
ties Dr. Boyer ran a general store, 
both at Rochester and Bellefoun- 
taine. John R. Barnes, cashier of 
Mahaska County bank, had charge of 
both of these stores at different 
times. Marion "WTiite also had a 
store. The village never attained 
any prominence. 

Olivet, a village located on Section 
9, is a station on the C. R. I. & P. 
railroad. The village took its name 
from the Olivet Presbyterian church, 



—99- 



which had been organized several the county was built in that settle- 
years bfefore. The viiiage was laid ment. In later years a building was 
out in 1877. The first house was erected and an academy established 
erected by William Sumner, who also which finally led to the establish- 
opened the first store. Samuel Casey ment of Penn college. The first 
was the first station agent and H.D. Friends Yearly Meeting in Iowa wa* 
Ross was the first postmaster. The held in Spring Creek grove in 1863. 
village never made much growth. Just how much of all these benefl- 
and now contains ten or a dozen cent results is traceable to the life 
families. and character of Thomas Stafford it 

Scott township has some rich coal is difficult to tell, but the influence 

mines. It has seven school houses, of the life of a man with a convic- 

The county poor farm is located on tion grows like leaven. Mr. Stafford 

Section 24 in this township. refused to become a member of the 

The township has 221 farms, claim association because he was 
whose value is $169,669 and personal conscientiously opposed to its con- 
property to the value of $33,407. Its templated violent measures. The as- 
pr'esent population is 12,00. sociation gave him the same protec- 
Spring Creek Township. tion which they took to themselves. 

This township took its name from William Stafford's marriage to Miss 

the creek flowing through it, which Eliza Stanley was the first marriage 

in some part is sustained by a num- in the township. The first birth wa* 

ber oi springs along its shores. Un« that of John Mitchell in 1844. 

til 1882 what are now Spring Creek, The first school house in the 

Oskaloosa, Lincoln and Garfield town- county was built and the first schhol 

ships, were known as Oskaloosa taught in this township in the fall 

township. and winter of 1844 by Miss SemiraA. 

Poultney Loughridge, John McAl- Hobbs. A more complete account of 

lister, Edwin and Robert Mitchell this school is given in another chap- 

and Patterson Martin were among ter. The township now has ten 

those who staked off their claims by schools. 

torchlight May 1, 1843. Poultney In the summer of 1862 there oo- 
Loughridge was the founder of the curred a freak in the big bend of 
United Presbyterian church in Oska- the Skunk river, a description of 
loosa. It was organized in the first which is worthy the pen of John 
school house built in the county, in James Audubon, the ornithologist, 
about 1847. For a number of years We refer to an old time pigeon roost. 
services were held during the winter It is the custom of these birds to re- 
in his cabin and in the summer in pair in countless numbers to a select- 
t^e open groves. ed spot in the forest and make it a 

Thomas Stafford and family came a rendezvous for a sufficient length of 

few months later. It is said that he time to hatch and rear their young, 

brought with him the sum of $18,- This year they gathered on the 

000. Mr. Stafford belonged to the Skunk river about four miles east of 

Society of Friends and formed out Oskaloosa on the William K. Sopher 

a nucleus for quite a large settlement farm. Their roost covered between 

of those of his own religious views, forty and fifty acres of timber land 

The first Friends meeting house in on both sides of the river. They cov- 

— 100— 



ered the trees like Bwarms of bees. 
There was a never fending road and 
din that could be heard for miles 
away*, especially in the evening on the 
return of tlie flocks from their forag- 
ing excursions through the dar hun- 
dreds of miles away. Those who 
lived only a few miles away say that 
the noise was like the roar of a cat- 
aract or an approaching hurri(Kua.e. 
Branches of the trees were constant- 
ly swaying and breaking under the 
weight of the settling myriads that 
were constantly circling in the air or 
lighting on the tree tops. They 
came in such numbers a» to darken 
the sun. Pandemonium reigned at 
the roost day and night. Out of 
such an aggregation of flocks, 
amounting to millions of individual 
birds, the air was constantly filled 
with the screams and fluttering of 
the wounded, the greetings of the 
incoming flocks and the departure of 
others. The constant fatalities of 
the living, and the falling of broken 
branches kept up a constant roiar and 
confusion. Those who visited the 
roost killed pigeons and young sc[uabs 
by wagon loads with clubs and poles. 
They were sold in the villages and 
towns about the country until there 
was no market for them. Naturalists 
tell us that these swift-winged little 
creatures will fly a mile in two and a 
half minutes and will keep it up for 
hundreds of miles. They assemble at 
these roosts for the annual hatching 
and rearing of their young which 
grow into maturity in a few months 
and swell the vast migratory throng. 
The following year there were severad 
hundred come back to the old roost 
for a time, but the gathering describ- 
ed above was the only genuine pigeon 
roost that ever occurred in the his- 
tory of Mahaska county since the 
coming of the white man. 



Spring Creek township now haa ten 
modern school houses and a number 
of rich coal mines. The north half 
has been covered with timber and is 
somewhat broken,while the south por- 
tion is a rolling prairie. The town- 
iship has 324 farms whose value is 
$280,475, and personal property to the 
value of $69,906. Its population is 
1,600. 

White Oak Township, 

white Oak took its name frooa the 
abundant timber of that name pre- 
dominating along the South Skunk 
river, which runs diagonally across 
the township. Among the first set- 
tlers in the township were Alexander 
Troy, M. Kinsman, Henry Bond, Wm. 
Bridges, James Stanford, John and 
Wm. Butler, John N. Kinsman, and 
others. On each side of the river 
channel for several miles the land is 
quite broken and has been pretty 
heavily timbered. There are seven 
or eight hundred acres of low lands 
which are not tillable, but valuable 
for their timber and pasture. 

Rose Hill is located on sections 3 
and 10 and was laid out on the com- 
pletion of the Oskaloosa branch of 
the C, R. I. & P. to Oskaloosa in 

1875. It is located about ten miles 
east of Oskaloosa. The first busi- 
ness house was built in that year by 
Baily & Stubbs. It prospered for a 
time and was incorporated in 1877. 
The postoffice was established in 

1876, with H. L. Orr as first postmas- 
ter. It has several good general 
•stores, a bank, three churches, a 
good school and is a good market for 
the rich farming country of which it 
forms the center. There are a num- 
ber of well kept homes, but the pop- 
ulation is not more than about two 
hundred and fifty. 

Where White Oak postoffice now 
stands Wm. Bond built a crude saw 



—101— 



mill in the beginning years, to help foot power by the use of which he 
the settlers make a better use of made chairs and the old-fashioned 
some of the fine timbvsr in its then spinning wheels for the spinning of 
quite extensive forests. The power flax and wool for the neighborhood, 
was produced by the treading of a Some of the chairs of his manufacture 
team of oxen. Because of the pree- are still in use in the township. Cur- 
fence of these faithful creatures it rier's mill, located on section 7, has 
took the name of Oxford. Theo. for a ser^'ed several generations with flour, 
chajige it was called Slab-town for a corn meal and other milling pro- 
time. It is said that in the early ducts. Near the postolfice is located 
years several acres of ground were White Oak church, and back of it the 
laid out in town lots and a number cf cemetery grounds. The Indian vil- 
buildings were erected. Later a lage of Kish-ke-kosh stood where Os- 
steam engine was used. A pair o: car McCurdy's barn now stands, and 
corn crackers were added to the mill just east on the hill was their grave- 
and it did grinding for the commun- yard, where they buried their dead. 
ity. O. R. Gaskill ran a blacksmith The settlers who came very early 
shop, to which he added a few gro- made use of the bark huts which they 
ceries to accommodate his trade. His still found standing. Henry Bond 
stock began gradually to grow until it lived in one of these huts until he 
developed into a good general store got his cabin built. The dense woods 
in which he continued to serve his and thickets of this township were a 
neighbors as postmaster and store- favorite resort for the pioneer hunt- 
keeper for some twenty-five years, er. He was almost sure to find game. 
The first school in the township was This may have been the reason for 
taught by James Robinson. It is the the Indians locating their village here. 
persons who do the unusual things white Oak contains 277 farms valued 
that find a place in history. S. M. at $193,774, with personal property 
Peddichord came from Virginia in worth $38,891. Its population is 
1854. He was a wheelwright by 1,800. 
trade and constructed a lathe run by 



-102- 



Chapter Twenty-Fi'he 

Early Ox Roasts — Missionaries FolloTved Early Settlers 



In the early days an ox roast was 
counted a great event. This luxury 
was only announced on occasions 
When the interest was at tne highest 
pitch and a great crowd was expected. 
Our younger readers may be interest- 
ed to know some of ae particulars of 
such an evBnt. We give them as they 
came to us from an enthusiastic pio- 
neer who participated m these occa- 
sions .A local committee where the 
feast was held had charge of details. 
Tht! day preceding tne roast a trench 
was dug some ten or twelre feet 
lon'g, four or five feet wide and as 
many deep. On the nigii^i- previous, 
or early next morning, a fire was built 
in this trench and tept burning until 
a heavy bed of coal3 was formed at 
the botcom. Thei the ox was killed 
and dressed and cut into pieces of 
convnient size, ti en laid on bars of 
iron which were placisd across the 
trench over the bed oi coals. The 
master of this part ot the service 
watches the beef whil- it roasts, turn- 
ing it with a pitchfork. When thor- 
ouglily cooked it is placied on tables 
and everyone iiresenc was welcome to 
help themselves 

Such a banquet as this was held on 
July 3, 1852, Indeperuencj Day com- 
ing on Sunday. It was madie the oc- 
casion of the laying of the corner 
stone of tho old Norn^al chool build- 
ing, as well as a Fourth of July cel- 



ebration. Ferris Goodwin superin- 
tended the ox roast on th'S occasion. 
Hii3 son, James Goodwin, who lives 
near Rose Hiil, has a distinct recol- 
lection Oi the event. Two thousand 
five hundred people "re said to have 
been present and the event was con- 
sidered the beginning of better things 
in an educational way for Oskaloosa. 
M. T. Williams read the Declaration 
of Independence r^Uu vVm. Loughridge 
and W. H. Seevers wc-re the orators of 
the day. After dinn- r there were nu- 
merous toasts and resronses, among 
which were the following: "Here's to 
the goose that grew the quill that 
wrote the Declaration of Independ- 
ence," M. T. Williams; "May the to- 
per's bottle speedily be broken ana 
the cause of Temperance thrive," by 
S. S. Stewart: It inight be well to 
state that the use of the steel pen is 
quite a modern invontion. Our fath- 
ers did almost all of their writing 
with a goose quili. 

Fifty and sixty years ago all cattle 
ran out on the prairie. Milk cows us- 
ually wore a bell. The blacksmith 
who could mak'* cow bells added 
many a shilling to his income. All 
stock was marked in some peculiar 
way, generally in the -^ar, — smooth 
crop, swallow forK, upper bit, under 
bit or round hole. All of these marks 
were recorded by the owner with th© 



-103— 



town'(3liip clerk, who settled all dis- miles to a neighbor who lived across 
putes with refterence to the ownership the river to borrow some flour. He 
of the 'stock. There was out one mar- made the trip afoot, crossing the river 
ket a year for hogs and that was dur- on a large drift, but returned without 
Ing the winter months. They were any flour. There was none to be had. 
then collected in large droves and Then his resourceful mother went to 
driven to the river. Generally to the bran barrel and, carefully sifting 
Burlington or Reokuk. They were a part of its contents, she obtained 
sold by weight and had to be weighed a Bufflcient quantity of pretty good 
with a large pair of stilliards. Each flour to supply bread for he hungry 
hog had to be handled separately, missionary. While that would hardly 
Breeching was improvised to place be possible now, it was then, because 
around the hog 'r,nd this was hooked of the less perfect method of grind- 
to a chain or rope which was fastened ing. 

to a sweep like those used in lifting a 

bucket of water from the well. When In all great moven-ents for the on- 
everythmg was ready the weigher ward march of civilization the names 
said: "Hog up," and up he went un- of the real heroes are often lost sight 
til he was ordered down. The weight of until the jostling of the years 
being ascertained, was recorded, and brings them to the surface. In Aug- 
8o the work went on u.^ Jl the weight ust, 1843, the M. E. Conference met 
of each bunch was known and turned at Dubuque. The New Purchase aad 
into the drove. The accommodations been open for settlement three 
for caring for stocii on the load were months. This Conference decided to 
poor and the owner hao often to establish two missions in the new ter- 
spend the night with his hogs to ritory and to send young men to oc- 
keep them from j.reezii-^ to death. cupy the field. The whole district 

was called the Des Moines River Dis- 

In Mahaska county, as in almost trict and extended from Farmington 
all parts of the woi-d, the American as far northwest as there were any 
missionary follow d close on the settlemehts. At that time there was 
heels of the first settlers. One of a dearth of names in his region and 
these young men was B. A. Spaulding the name given to the fiela which after- 
of sacred memory. In 1866 he was ward became Mahaska county was 
county superintendent of Wapello Muchakinock Mission. The name of 
county and gave the writer his first the young man assigned to this mis- 
certificfiata as a teacher in that year, sion was Joseph T. Lewis. He was 
A. J. Comstock says that in 1843, the first Methodist preacher, if not 
shortly after his father ;s family had the very first herald of the cross, who 
settled in the county a young man ever looked after his scattered fiock 
w!JO was a missionary of the Pr^:s- in this new region. Mr. Lewis was a 
byterian church, came to th'3ir home, graduate of Woodward college, Cin- 
His father's family all belonged to that cinnati, Ohio. Trained as he was in 
churcn and gave che stranger a cor- the more polished iife of the east, he 
dial welcome. Just at that time his was illy qualified for the hardships 
father had gone to Bonaparte to mill and exposure of missionary life in a 
and they were entirely without bread, new country. But he was not want- 
His mother sent him two and a half ing in an unselfish and heroic spirit 

—104— 



which was willing to endure hardness Some interesting stories are told of 
BS a good soldier of Christ. He came the means resorted to in order to pre- 
on to the field assigned him and did vent robbery and preserve the cum- 
rhis work faithfully until late in the bersome coin. The late E. D. Chew 
fall of that year. He was without a came to Oskaloosa from New Jersey 
home. The settlements were Bcatte-r in the spring of 1844 and landed from 
ed and the cabins were all small. He the boat at Keokuk late in the even- 
|iad often to swim streams, picket his ing. For convenient handling he had 
horse and camp out on the wild pral- placed three thousand dollars in sii- 
ries with scanty food and covering, ver and gold coin In a keg and head- 
It began to tell on his health and his ed it up. He found it almost impossi- 
presiding elder, Henry Summers, sent ble to take personal charge of his 
him to Iowa City to teach in a school treasure for the night and reluctant- 
which the church was fostering there, ly left his ducats lying over night on 
This was more agreeable to his train- the wharf with the other nousehold 
ing and culture. He remained in stuff. At the lot sale in Oskaloosa 
lowi City a few years and then rc>- that year he purchased ihe corner loi 
turned to his home in Cincinnati, southeast of the square, now occu- 
broken in health. He lingered for a pled by he Bertsch-Shurtz drug store, 
time and then went down to a prema- paying therefor fifty dollars. He took 
ture grave from exposure while at a claim of several hundred acres 
work in the Muchakinock Mission. So northwest of the Fair Ground, cover- 
the obituary announcing his death ing two farms, now owned by A. E. 
stated. It is a pathetic story of Caldwell and Fred Butler, which he 
a young man who brought his retained and occupied most of his 
contribution to the new west, lifetime. The Caldwell farm changed 
We do not know that he organ- hands recently at one hundred and 
ized a single church, but no twenty-five dollars per acre, and Mr. 
human wisdom can measure the influ- Butler paid one hundred and seventy- 
ence of the seed sown on that virgin fire dollars an rxre for his attractiv'e 
soil. He willingly gave his life in the homestead. 

sowing, and his name should be held 

in sacred memory by his brethren of Wesley Mettler was one of the In- 
another generation. Mr. Lewis was dustriou.*? citizens of Oskaloosa in the 
succeeded in his work in what the old earlier years. He was somewhat ec- 
records of the Dubuque Conference centric, but not wanting in persistent 
called the Muchakinock Mission, by economy. At one time when his fru- 
Allen Johnson, who organized the first gality had rewarded him with several 
M. E. church in Oskaloosa on October hundred dollars In silver coin, he de- 
13, 1844. • posited It for safte keeping in -an old 

iron teakettle in tne oack shed kitch- 

In the pioneer days the handling of en. One morning he was chagrined 
money was quite a problem for the to find that some thief with a vein of 
settler who was fortunate enough to generosity In his nature had relieved 
have a sufilcient quantity for his act- him of just one-half his treasure, 
ual needs in securing a homestead. Some years afterward he found him- 
The modem banking system waii then self the custodian of more than two 
unknown and impractical in Iho west, thousand dollars In gold coin. He 



owned a good-sized farm at that tim«, he mentioned his loss t- a few of his 
just northwest of wtere the First friends, among them ex-Sheriff Dan 
ward school bnlldlng is now locate-l. Swearingen. To him he gave evtery 
With his usual caution he sought a clue of which he had any knowledge, 
secure hiding place for his hard and offered him one-half of the beau- 
earnings. This time he secreted Qie tiful gold pieces if h© would by any 
ytellow metal under a near-by hay- means secure the money. He did not 
stack whwe he was sure no one but care for the thief. Mr. Swearingen 
himself would think of looking for was not long unraveling the mystery 
money. Occasoinally he slipped cau- and the money was restored. Hard 
tiously over to the place to experience as it was to part wiiu the coin, the 
the peculiar satistaction th^re is in division was made. A thousand dol- 
handling a much prized treasure. All lars was a dear lesson, but Mr. Mtet- 
unconscious to himself, his movie- tier was exceeding pletsed to have 
ments had attracted attention and one recovered so generous a portion of 
night his money was stolen. This his earnings with which to begin his 
seemed more than he could bear, and old business again. 



-106— 



Chapter 7%enty-S(X 

The War Period'^Ta.lly Rank— Skunk River Army—Peorta. ^ot. 

As in many rorthern communities gathered and started for Oskaloosa 
during the Rebellion, trere w^'-, a for the purpose of liberating the 
misguided elefTi^ut in Vahaska coun- prisoners. I'hey iield a parley on the 
L- " ho was not :.i sympathy with IL^ north side of Skunk rivBr and sent 
war measures of President Ldncoln a committee to Oskaloosa to confer 
and his admirers. Orgainizations with the authorities. Little attention 
known as "Knights of the Grolden Cir- seems to have jen paid to their 
cle," who held necret meetings and presence and after some threatening 
were in communication with similar remarks of what they intended to do 
societies throughout the state, are they returned to their companions 
known to have existed in this county and tne company dispersed to their 
especially along its northern border, homes. 

In fact these associations of men After a short confinement Parr and 
were in symppthy with the Southern Thomas were released on the pay- 
Confederacy, and were never more ment of a small fine. Smith being a 
light-hearved than when victory came man of limited means was sent to 
to the SouLuern army. In a letter to Des Moines ..o serve out a six or nine 
Secretary of War B. M. Stanton, months' imprisonment. H/is fpiendfe 
dated March 18 1863, Governor Kirk- sent him a purse, but he sent the ran- 
wood expresses the belief that these som money to his family, determin- 
organizations were effected dy paid ing to submit to the sentence impos- 
agents from the Southern Confeder- ed, after which he was permitted to 
acy. go free. 

On North Skunk river near Indian- Tally Raid. 

apolis three men were arrested on 

the charge of treason by the United Confederate sympathizer: were 
States irarshal. They were Silas known in the north as 'Copperheads.' 
Parr, B. A. iSmith and Wesley Thom- They woie a badge of half a butter- 
as. All public men. They were nut or a copper cent as a breast pin. 
brought to Oskaloosa and placed in Perhaps the most rabid, disloyal 
jail and r. company of guards were stronghold in Iowa was over in the 
orderea from Eddyville to prevent forks of i-e Skun'c rivers in Keokuk 
the possibility of their friends reieas- county, with allies in Mahaska, Powe- 
ing them. shiek and Wapello counties. On 

Some days after their arrest a Saturday, Aug. 1st, 1863, when our 
company of several hundred men country was under its darkest cloud 

-107— 



a meeting of "Peace Democrats," 
as they chose lo call tnemselves, was 
held in a grove near English River, 
a half mile from the town of South 
English, which was of strongly Union 
sentiment. There were several hun- 
dred persons at +his meeting. Their 
leading spirit was Geo. C. Tally, a 
young Baptist minister, v.hose father 
was a T\3nnesseean. He was an open 
advocate of -.Icveiy ns a divine insti- 
tution and a deefender of the Rebell- 
ion They had goue to this meeting 
with arms secretea under the hay 
and straw in the Dottom of their wa- 
gon beds. Some republicans were 
at the meeting ana hot words had 
passed and bitter-i.ut badges had 
been Stripped from a couple of ladies 
who had disph.yed them. 

Tally was an uneducated man, but 
endowed with much natural ability 
as a speak -r. On this occasion he 
was the chief speaker. Some of t.ae 
par^y had made absurd threats that 
as they returned they would clean out 
the town of South English. These 
f ac s were made known in town and 
in the afternoon when the Tally 
forces were returning home they 
passed through South English just at 
the close of a republican meeting ana 
found the entire town armed, making 
no effort to disguise their weapons. 
Excitement ran high and the streets 
were crowded. Tally was in the 
rear part of the front wagon with a 
revolver ana bowie knife in his hands. 
The Union element bitterly hated the 
Copperheads and taunted them as 
traitors and cowards. At this all of 
the company took up their weapons 
from the bottom of their vehicles and 
one man discharged, by accident he 
claimed, one barrel of his piece into 
the ground. This gav^ license for 
the firing to become general Tally 
fell dead after firing two chambers of 



his weapon. One of the horses 
drawing the front wagon was shot, 
which caused the team to run, and 
the fusillade ceased. Tally was shot 
three times. Once in the head and 
twice through the body. A democrat 
by the name of Wyant was severely 
wounded but afterwards recovered. 
Tally was carried to his home In 
loka. The revolver and knife which 
he held in his hands wnen he receiv- 
ed the fatal shots wtere so tightly 
clinched that they could only be re- 
moved with difficulty after the body 
reached home. That afternoon and 
night messengers were sent to ad- 
joining counties to Lotify sympathiz- 
ers. By daylight Sunday morning an 
army variously estimated at from 
fiv^ hundred to several thousand were 
on their way to a rendezvous agreed 
upon on Skunk river south of Sigour- 
ney. Here they formed a camp and 
spent the day molding bullets, gath- 
ering ammunition and arms. Bill 
Tally, a cousin of the unfortunate 
victim at South English, was select- 
ed as their leader. Tnis hastily aa- 
sembled body of men are known In 
history as the "Skunk River Army." 
Governor Kirkwood had been prompt- 
ly notified of the occurrence and with 
his usual foresight and activity was 
ready for the emergency. He at 
once ordened eleven military compa- 
nies and a squad of artillery to pro- 
ceed forthwith to Sigourney, where 
he himself with three aides met them 
on Wednesday. The governor made 
an address at + -e court house to the 
large assembly who were in waiting. 
He urged obedience to law, and prom- 
ised the power of tive state to bring 
guilty parties to justice. The army 
had called Charles Negus, a promi- 
nent Fairfield attorney ,to act as their 
counsel. After a conference with ihe 
state auhorities he wisely advised the 



-108— 



leader of the army of the utter folly a second wound, sna'ched the weapon 
of trying to resist the legally organ- from his antagonist and threw him on 
ized state authorities. Col. N. P. the ground, ana after striKing Myers 
Chipman was commander of the state several times with his pistoi, he fell 
guards. When Tany reported to his to the ground compl<itv.iy exhausted, 
crude soldiery .hat they were called Immediately after tne first shot was 
upon to disperse or face the state fired, it was followed by the discharge 
troops without delay, their courage of a number of other weapons. Gary 
gave way to moi- mature judgment was wounded in the wrist and a Dr. 
and they concluded to disband. The Spain reeeivied a wound in the leg. 
temporary encampment was abandon- Excitement and consternation lollow- 
ed in as short a space of time as they ed and the meeting broke up. The 
had gathered. It is estimated that few republicans present placed Ser- 
about one hundred and fifty men geant Alloway in a wagon, but hB ex- 
from Mahaska countv were members pired before reaching Peoria. The 



of that inglorious mushroon army 
Peoria Riot. 
On August 22, 1863, a similar oc- 



dead soldier was to have been mar- 
ried in a short time to ^ cousin of the 
man who took his life. 
Sheriff Frank Alumbaugh and two 
currence took place in this county, marshals shortly afterwards arriested 



one-haii mile west of Peoria, at a 
democratic rally. Capt. Simon G. 



Myers and he was placed in the 
county jail in Oskaloosa. After two 



Gary and Sergeant A. T. Alloway, lengthy and expensive trials, one in 

both of Company H, Third Iowa In- Ottumwa and the other in Albia, in 

fantry, were in Peoria at that time which a hard effort was made by the 

at home on wounded furlough. Gary defense to prove that it was the shot 

had been at this mass meeting in the fired by Gary that killed nis com- 

forenoon and had had some trouble rade, the county already having been 

with parties wearing butternut at a large expense, with no hope of 

badges. In the afternoon after in- conviction, the case was dismissed, 

dulging in some liquor he returned to and Myers remained unpunished for 

the meeting ana took with him his his crime. There is not much won- 

comrade, Alloway, from whom he haa der that such men went unpunished 



borrowed a pistol. Capt. James A. 
Seevers, of Oskaloosa, was the speak- 



when we remember that it was esti- 
mated by Governor Stone in that year 



er for the afternoon. The two that there were thirty thousand mem- 
wounded soldiers got into an alterca- bers in the disioyal organizations of 
tion and were persuaded to retire by the state. 

some of their iriends As they were Raid on the Times Office. 

leaving the grounds a partisan nam- The Times was a democratic paper 

ed Mart Jiyers stepped in front and published in Oskaloosa. A. A. Whee- 

dared either of them to remove his lock was its editor. He was of the 

badge. The hat a symbol was at once radical democratic type of that per- 

removed and Alloway and Myers iod an in commenting on the death 

clinched. In .-e struggle which fol- of Alloway he is said to have referred 

lowed iVIyers shot Aiioway, who was to the murdered soldier as being 

unarmed, through the body. Where- "only a Lincoln hireliug, employed 

upon the soldier, now Buffering from in kuiing his betters." Several cop- 

—109— 



ies of the Times reacted his com- 
rades of Co. H, 3d Iowa regiment, 
where they were on duty at Natchez, 
Miss. They were very justly indig- 
nant at that kind of journalistic ref- 
erence to their services in behali of 
their country. A meeting was called 
and they decided that Mr. Wheelock 
should do one of two things, viz.: re- 
tract his ultra statement, or accept 
Confederate money for nis paper at 
its face value. Failing to do either 
of these, his paper should be sup- 
pressed just as soon as Co. H shorid 
reach home. These alternatives were 
sent to the indiscrete editor by mail. 
He refused the first two and the sol- 
diers determined to stop the publica- 
tion of the paper. In March, 1864, a 
number of troops came home on vet- 
eran furlough, and among the number 
a part of Company H of the Third. 
At a meedng held at Ed dyville, which 
was at that time the nearest railroad 
point, quite a number of the veterans 
opposed violent measures; others 
were bent on carrying out the decis- 
ion of the company while ini camp. A 
delegation of veterans alighted from 
the stage at the Madison House and 
called at the Times office and told 
Mr. Wheelock laey were comrades of 
Alloway, whose calling he had de- 
rided and belittled through his paper. 
They would be at home for tnirty 



days a,nd requested that tis paper 
should be suspended for that length 
of time. When asked by what author- 
ity, their reply was: By military au- 
thority." Mr. Wheelock stated inthft 
next issue that he had been threat- 
ened by soldiers, tuat he wished no 
quarrel with them, but if his busi- 
ness vms interfered with they would 
be called upon to settle with the 
democracy of Mahaska county. The 
iSaturday following this publication 
was selected by the soldiers to make 
their work effective. The veterans 
had all been notified and were pres- 
ent, liKewise a goodly number of the 
Times supporters were in town and 
were known to be armed. The 
Times office was near the northeast 
corner of the square, where the jail 
now stands. A squad of co. H, Third 
Iowa, visited the office about two 
o'clock in the afternoon, and going 
into the press room they quietly car- 
ried to the window everything that 
was in sight, — forms, font and type, 
and threw it into the street. It was 
only the work of a few moments, and 
without touching anything else they 
met their comrades on the outside. 
The work was completed without a 
shot being fired and the suppression 
of the paper was effectual. Mr. Whee- 
lock left the city and abandoned the 
field of journalism. 



-no- 



Chapter Twenty-Se'ben 

The War 'Period— Kilting of the cMa.rshals— Other War Incidents. 

During the draft of 1864 a number The behavior of the men showed clear- 
of men were drafted from Sugar ly to the officers that they were about 
Creek township in Poweshiek county, to have trouble. Bashore sprang out 
who failed to report themselves to the of thfe buggy with his revolver in his 
authorities. Under the law this dis- hand and began remonstrating with 
obedience to orders caused them to the three men, saying they had no 
bo treated as deserters. On Saturday, quarrel with them, but were in search 
Oct. 1, the provost marshal of the of other citizens of the township. 
Fourth district of Iowa sent out two Woodruff remained in the buggy and 
deputy marshals to arrest the drafted drove a few rods down the road. Af- 
men as deserters. These two oflacers ter a short paney Bashore turned to 
wore Captain John L. Bashore, of Cen- join his fellow officer and John Fleen- 
torville, and Deputy Marshal J. M. er leveled a double-barreled shot-gun 
Woodruff, of Knoxville, whose head- at the officer and shot him in the 
quartera were at Oskaloosa. On en- back. The Fleeners then hid in the 
tering the township just before noon brush and opened fire. Woodruff was 
they met Mike Gleason, and thinking shot through the head and probably 
him a loyal man, they made some in- killed instantly, as his revolver had 
quiry as to where they would find the not been emptied. Gleason had re- 
dratted men. When they had parted ceived so severe a wound in cne tnigh 
with Gleason, they stopped with J. S. that he was unable to get away, but 
Carver for dinner. From Mr. Carver had strength enough to approach Ba- 
the officers learned of the existence in shore and break his gun over the fa- 
the township of a somewhat secret tally wounded marshal. Bashore liv- 
organization known as "Democrat ed four or five hours and related all 
Rangers." As they were known to the particulars of the double murder 
bo well armed the deputy marshals de- of these union officers. The cowardly 
tennined to report to Marshal James Fleeners made good their escape, leav- 
Matthews, their superior officer, whose ing their confederate to his fate. In a 
headquarters was at Grinnell, before very short time the citizens of the 
going further in their search. neihgborhood, who hefj-d the firing, 

After ttinner they had proceeded came to the spot and removed the 
only a short distance when they met dead and wounded to the J. S. Carver 
John and Joe Fleener, (brothers-in-law home which was but a short distance 
to Myers who had shot AUoway in the away. Gleason wajs arrested. Ac- 
year previous), and Mike Gleason. cording to his testimony, after leaving 

—111- 



the marshals in the forenoon, he went Mike Gleason, the misguided "Rang- 
directly to Miller's saw mill where er" languished in the Oskaloosa jail 
there was a meeting of the "Rang- ior a number of months, awaiting the 
ers" for drilling that afternoon, it be- time when his wounds should be suf- 
ing Saturday .It seems that the three ficiently healed to be brought to trial, 
men named above were delegated by When the trial was completed he waa 
the company to take care of the mar- sentenced for a long term in the Ktate 
shals. Shortly after these United penitentiary, from which he never 
States officers were murdered, sev- emerged until the day came whei he 
eral wagon loads of these rebel sym- was carried out and buried in a felon's 
pathizers passed the spot where they grave. 

were lying without offering the sUght- 

est assistance. Provost Marshal 

Matthews ordered two companies of There were quite a number of quar- 
militia, one from Grinnell and the rels and feuds about over the county 
other from Montezuma, and aecom- at different times. To match the 
panied them himself to the scene ot Skunk River Army and the Democrat 
the shooting to assist in making ar- Rangers, in the north part of the 
rests. On Sunday Gleason and seven county there was a Union orgaulza- 
others were sent to Oskaloosa under tion known as the Border Brigade 
guard. The names of the latter were The presence of these antagonistic 
Andrew Powers and son Josep'a, Sole- elements, each working in secret and 
mon Watson and son George, John often usurping authority which did 
Malony, Allen Daniel and Perry Mc- not belong to them, made the war 
Farland. Several other arrests were period a pretty warm time in Mahaska 
made. A part of them were sent to county. At one time a mau by the 
Davenport. But as sufficient evidence name of Street, who had been sen- 
to convict was wanting, they were tenced to imprisonment for treason, 
soon afterwaras released. On Mon- was being brought by stage from one 
day, the bodies of the murdered offi- of the southern counties in the state 
cers were brought to Oskaloosa. A on his way to Des Moines. The 
delegation of citizens met them out- Skunk River Army, who were always 
side the city. As they were escort- threatening but never did anything, 
ed through the sreets the church bells passed a resolution to rescue the pris- 
tolled and every mark of respect was oner as he passed through Oskaloosa. 
shown to them as men who had been About one hundred armei men ap- 
slain by the spirit of insurrection peared in Oskaloosa on the day he 
while at the post of duty. The follow- was expected and planned to intercept 
ing day the bodies were removed to the stage. The authorities were warn- 
Centerville and Knoxville, their re- ed of the probable interruption, and 
spective homes. The most diiligent bringing with them a company of mi- 
search for the Fleener brothers was litia from Eddyville, passed the city 
unsuccessful. They left the country by another route and comia^ In from 
and have never been seen in these the north, locked the prisoner in the 
parts since. It was quite well known jail. Seeing the militia tht* would-be 
in after years that they went to the deliverers struck out for home and 
frontier in Kansas and ever after- the prisoner was taken on his way to 
ward lived under an assumed name. Des Moines the same night, 

* —112— 



Ten companies of infantry were en- witti patriotic speeclies and farewell 
listed in Mahaska county, tlie aggre- addresses. Among other articles pre- 
gate of which was about one thous- sented to each individual soldier was 
and men. Besides this number there a copy of the New Testament, given 
were some three hundred who enlisted by the Mahaska County Bible Society, 
in other corrmands in the state and These tokens of affection were g'jn- 
who were recruited for the ten com- erally much prized by the men, and 
panics as their ranks became depleted we know of some of them who have 
during the progress or the war. This that Testament yet and would not 
makes a total of thirteen hundred now part with it for its weight in gold, 
men who answered the call of patriot- Three companies of this regiment 
ism and manfully took their places in were from Keokuk county and three 
'soldier array between their homes and were from Marion county. The regt- 
southern treason. ment was raised and organized by 

In 1861 the entire population of the Colonel S. A. Rice, whose splendid 
county was about 15,000. In tnat record as a brave commander is a 
year four companies were recruited, treasured memory of both county and 
viz.: Co. H, 3d Iowa; Co. C, 7th Iowa; state. It was r.T'orn in^^^o service on 
Co. H, 8tn Iowa; Co. C, 15th Iowa. In Oct. 1, and numbered in all nine hun- 
1862 the following companies were re- dred and eighty men. The command 
cruited: Companies C, D, E and K, left their barracks Nov. 20, marching 
33d Iowa, and Co. C, 40th Iowa. The to Eddyville, where they took the 
following year Co. I, 47th Iowa, was train for Keokuk, thence by steamer 
enrolled. to St. Louis and the South, where 

The 33d Iowa Infantry contained they spent the winter of 1862-3 in the 
more Mahaska men than any other most active and trying service. The 
regiment. Its place of rendesvouz following spring Colonel Rice was 
was at the county fair grounds, named placed in command of the brigade of 
Camp Tuttle, in honor of Colonel Tut- which his regiment formed a part,and 
tie, the gallant soldier of the 2d Iowa. Lfleutenant Colonel Mackey became 
In the year 1862 when the 33d Iowa the first offlcflOler in the regimeni. EI- 
was encamped here while recruiting liott W. Rice, a brother of the above, 
its ranks before going to the south, was also a Mahaska county man. He 
a company of women were organized enlisted in 1861 as second sergeant in 
to prepare such articles as the sol- Co. C, 7th Iowa Infantry, and rose to 
diers would find useful in theJr more Brigadier General in 1864. 
active service in field and camp lite Captain A. J. Comstock, of Co. G, 
at the front. One of these articles 33d Iowa, was a veteran of the Mexl- 
the boys called their housewife. It can war, having enlisted Oct. 25,1848, 
was a needle-book made like a folding at Hannibal, Mo., as a private in the 
pocketbook, fastened with a flap and 14th Tennessee regiment. He was 
button, and contained needles and the only Mexican volunteer from Ma- 
pins, thread and buttons aad such haska county. But the treaty of 
other articles as befitted a soldier's peace had aldeady been signed and 
toilet. When the regiment started on the war was practically over early in 
the march to Eddyville to take the that year. News traveled slowly in 
cars, they halted on the commons on those dajrs and it took some monttis 
South Market street and were regaled to reach the north. Mr. Comstock 

-115- 



was mustered out in August, 1S49. $1,000; Christian Commission, $1,000; 

In 1862 the Board of Supervisors ol Freedman's Aid Commission, $1,000; 

Mahaska county passed a resolution Soldiers' Orphans' Home, $2000; mak- 

offering a tea-dollar bounty warrant, ing a total of $5,000 for these benefl- 

which should be received for county cent purposes. 

taxes, to all volunteer privates from A partial report of a committee ap- 
the county. The offer continued in pointed Jan. 10, 1865, to solicit similar 
force until January, 1863. As in al- donations shows a total from the dif- 
most all of tfne loyal communities of ferent townships of $3,382.37. In No- 
the north, the ladies of this county vember, 1864, ninety men were drafted 
contributed much to the aid of the into the service from seven townships 
soldiers during the war period. So- who had not filled their quoto by en- 
cieties were organized which sent to listments. Only forty-five men were 
the front sanitary supplies. Soldiers' wanted, but it was the custom of the 
widows and orphans were tenderly war department to have twice the 
cared for, the Christian Commissoin, number drawn, and when a sufllcient 
the Freedman's Aid Commission and number of men from a given town- 
all like organizations receiving gen- ship had passed the examination, be. 
erous contributions. During the sum- ginning with number one, the others 
mer of 1864 alone the following sub- who had been called to report were 
scriptions were made by Mahaska excused, 
county citizens: Sanitary Commission, 



-114- 



Chapter Twenty-Eight 

First Things in 9\iaha.ska County— Earliest Cabin Built in f842. 



The first cabin built in the terri- 
tory of Mahaska county was built in 
the fall of 1842 by William Mcll- 
vain. He was a clerk at that time 
at J. P, Eddy's trading post. 
By profession an Indian trader and 
hunter and secured his permission to 
build the cabin from the Sac and Fox 
Indians who hung around the trad- 
ing post. The home was built for 
the family of John B. Gray, who ar- 
rived from Texas in November, and 
occupied the place until the following 
spring, when he to k a claim just 
over the county line in Monroe coun- 
ty on a small stream since known as 
Gray's Creek. We ha\^ this inform- 
ation from the Gray family, and also 
from Mr. J. H. Mcllvain's son, now In 
Kansas. 



The first judge of Manaska county 
was J. A. L. Crookham. His term 
of service begain in August, 1851, 
and ended in August, 1855. 



David Stump was the first survey- 
or in the county, serving from 1844 
to 1846. It -ell LO his lot to survey 
the original plat on which the city 
of Oskaloosa is now located. 



The first grand jury in the county 
held its first session in the hollow a 
quarter of a mile north of the square 



surrounded by tall prairie grass. 
This was in the summer oi 1844. 



The first court house owned by the 
county was built on the northwest 
corner of the square during the win- 
ter of 1844-45. It was a two story 
frame structure. James Edgar was 
the contractor. 



The first jail was built in 1845. 
It was built of logs and was located 
on the old jail site on North A. 
street. After a prisoner named Les- 
ter had distinguished nimself by bor- 
ing his way out with a common au- 
ger the building was ulated with 
iron. 



The first scnool in the county was 
opened in a rude, doorless log cabin 
in the timber two miles east of Os- 
kaloosa in September, 1844. It was 
taught by Miss Semira A. Hobbs, 
now Mrs. T. G. Phillips of Oskaloosa. 



A. S. Nichols was chairman of the 
first board of commissioners of the 
county. The nnancial affairs of the 
county were managed by three com- 
missioners. Mr. Nichols had charge 
of laying out the original plat of the 
town of Oskaloosa. 



—116— 



He dug the first well in Oskaloosa- 
Poultney Lioughridge of Spring CreeK 
dug the first well in the county. 
The settlers depended on springs for 
water. Henry Stafford says there 
was a spring in the early years 
where the Presoyterian church now 
stands. When wells biegan to be dug 
it ceased to fiow. 

Mr. Nicnols also started the first 
blacksmith shop in the county. He 
had customers who came from fifty 
miles west of Des Moines. There 
was no shop further west in this part 
of iowa. 



W. D. Campfield was the first treas- 
urer of Maliaska county. His report 
for the year 1844 was ?505.63 as total 
amount of taxes due. Amount col- 
lected $361.99, leaving a balance of 
unpaid tax of $143.64. 



The first appropriation for a puu- 
lic highway in the county was made 
about 1854 by Judge J. A. L. Crook- 
ham for a rope to stretch across the 
river at Bellefountaine for the use 
of the ferry boat. The request was 
made in the presence of John White. 
While Mr. Crookham hesitated, doubt- 
ing his authority, Mr. White said to 
him, "I will stana by you if you 
make the appropriation." It would bfe 
interesting to know the full amount 
of money that has been appropriated 
by county and township boards for 
public highways since that cautious 
beginning. 

The first brick JJiin burned in the 
county was undertaken by Goodwin 
& Harbor in 1846, over on Spring 
Creek. From this kiln the first 
brick house in Qskaioosa was built. 
It Btill stands, the first house 'south 
of the Christian church, and is now 
occupied as a residence. 



The first cemetery in the county 
was located on the ridge southwest of 
the Second ward school house building. 
It was known as the Judge John 
White cemetery in distinction from 
the second cemetery on north Market 
street. 



The first grave robbed in the coun- 
ty occurred at this cemetery in 1849. 
A California emigrant nad died and 
was buried here. An about-town fel- 
low known as Captain Moore, robbed 
the grave. It produced a great sen- 
sation at the time. Moore fled. He 
has the odious distinction of being 
the first grave robber in the county. 



The first murder in the county oc- 
curred in Adams township, eight 
miles northeast of Oskaloosa, on 
Middle creek. It occurred in 1843, 
before Oskaloosa was born. Wm. 
Johnson, who had a romantic and vi- 
cious history, was an outlaw. His 
cabin was located in a grove on what 
is now the Vermillion farm. He had 
bitter enemies, and one night while 
he was standing in front of his cabin 
fire about seven o'clock he was shot 
through the crevice in the cabin wall. 
It was never known just wlio com- 
mitted the deed. The next morning 
a grave was dug beside the cabin and 
in this the criminal was buried. 



Major Neeley started the first livery 
stable in Oskaloosa. It was located 
just north of the Oskaloosa Dry 
Goods store. In 1848 Henry Stafford 
purchased its belongings and moved 
it to the opera house corner. One 
day a party passed through town 
with two large elk. Mr. Stafford con- 
ceived the idea of having a team of 
reindeers and traaed a horse for the 
two. He says he tried every way 



—116- 



possible to train them to work with 
safety in harness, but utterly failed. 
Mr. Stafford had twenty-three head 
of horses and livBried a far west as 
Council Bluffs. 



The first marriage license in the 
county was issued by M. T. Williams, 
May '60, 1844, to iaamuol C. Nicholson 
and Eleanor May. 



The first set of naturalization pa- 
pers granted in the county was issued 
July 28, 1845 



The first meeting house in the coun 
ty was built in Oskaloosa in 1846, by 
the Cumberland Presbyterian church. 
It was located on the lot now occu- 
pied by the residence of Dr. Hugg. 
This congregation was organized by 
Rev. B. B. Bonham, Nov. 10, 1844, 
with a membership of 22 persons. 
The bell, which for a long term of 
years called the worshippers together 
was brou£nt from Keokuk on a lumber 
wagon and was so hung in its place 
on the wagon that it rang all the way 
when the wagon was in motion. This 
bell is still lyreserved as one of the 
city's relics. 



The first hotel built in the city was 
erected by Charles Purvine, on the 
Downing House lot in the summer of 
1846. Jonathan Ogden was the me- 
chanic. Tills lot 5, block 19, was 
sold to Harmon Davis, June 9, 1844, 
for $41.00. Ever since che construc- 
tion of this first little frame building 



the property hac been used ajs a hotel 
for the entertainment of the public. 



The first bill of divorce fou;id on 
the recorGS of the county is dated 
Nov. 15, 1845, in the case of Rebecca 
Ash versus Thomas Ash. The court 
granted the petition and declared the 
complainant to be the injured party. 



J. S. Chew came from Philadel- 
phia in 1850. ±ie made and sold the 
first ice cream ever manufactured in 
Oskaloosa. He was a man of varied 
talent. A local preacner, the first 
man in the county to take up the 
work of organising Sunday schools 
over the county. 



The first teachers' institute evei; 
held in the county was brought about 
by J. F. Everett, in the summer of 
1858. Mr. Everett was then a young 
teacher in the county. Prof. Enos, 
of Cedar Rapidr^, was president ana 
Miss Emma Jack, secretary. No re- 
coids of this institute have been 
preserved. 



The first camp-meeting in the coun- 
ty was held at a spring north of Os- 
kaloosa, in what ^3 now Gibbs' g:rove, 
in the fall of 1847. There was stirring 
times at some of these meetings. 
Some of the pion^^ers can give tne 
text of the great sermons to which 
they listened. 



The first election for choosing offi- 
cers for the city government of the 
city of Oskaloosa occurred on July 2, 
1853. The election resulted In the 
following: Mayor, W. T. Smith; mar- 
shal, Isaac Kalbach; clerk, Wm. 
Loughridge; treasurer, James Edgar; 
councilmen — t^rst ward, J. M. Daw- 
son, R. R. Harbour; Second ward, I. 
N. Cooper, B. W. Eastman; Thira 
ward, Tobias Leighton, csmith E. Stev- 
ens; Fourth ward, E. W. Wells, Henry 
Temple. 



The first metallic burial case used 
in the county was for the shipment of 



—117— 



Simon Pelseathal. He was a prosper- 
ous Hebrew clothier in Fremont. Af- 
ter his death in 1860 his friends came 
from Philadelphia, Pa., and had his 
remains disinterred and shipped to 
that city. 



The flrsi railroad in the county was 
the Des Moines Valley, built to Ed- 
dyville in 1861 and extended througli 
this county thr^ years later. 



The first barrel of sugar ever retail- 
ed in Oskaloosa was uauled from 
Burlington by Harry Brewer. 



The first Mahaska County Fair was 
held in the fall of 1852. 



The first frame dwelling in Oska- 
loosa was erected during the summer 
of 1845 by Micajah T. Williams. Mr. 
Williams did the work with his own 
hands. It was located on the comer 
where the postoffice now stands. It 
was the urs- home of Mr. Williams 
and his young wiife, Virginia Seerers. 



I'he first lumber yard in Oskaloosa 
was opened on June 13, 1865, by Isaac 
Kalbach. He hauled his first supply 
of lumber from Eddyville. Mr. Kal- 
bach was a cabinet maker by trade In 
his earlier life, and knew the superior 
advantage of working with pine lum- 
ber over the hard native woods. This 
yard still remains in the Kalbach 
family. 



The first buggy urought to the coun- The first carding machines brougnt 

ty was owned by Wm. Edmundson, to Oskaloosa were placed in the mill 

who was the first county sheriff and erectea by A. S. Nichols and Jonathan 

organized the county. Adkins, north ol the old jail site. 



—118- 



Chapter 7%enty-Nme 

Oskedoosa's Cemetries—EeLrly FunerAls— Recollection of Dead. 



In fhe very early years, when death 
came to the home of the ■vsnestern 
traveler, some ridge or hill was se- 
lected on which to bury the dead. 
It would be a spot well marked by 
a huge tree or grove or stream. 
Sometimes, in the necessity of keep- 
ing up with the caravan, a grave was 
hurriedly dug oy the side of the 
trail. 

Thomas A. Stoddard, who passed 
through Fort Kearney July 14, 1852, 
on his return to Iowa, counted six 
hundred fresh graves by the roadside 
between that point and his Iowa 
home. He also states that up to the 
foregoing date the government rec- 
ords showed that 41,156 emigrants 
haa passed through Fort Kearney 
going westward. 

The first cemetery near Oskaloosa 
was laid out on an acre of land don- 
ated for that purpose by Judge John 
White, who lived on the ridge just 
southwest of town. Mr. White was 
tie first probate judge in this county 
(1844-49) and retained the title 
throughout his lifetime in distinction 
to John White, the financier and 
banker, whose home was just north 
of Oskaloosa. 

This cemetery was located on the 
ridge southwest of the Second ward 
school building. Mr. George Wbite, 
a son of Judge White, states that the 
first person buried there was a Cal- 



ifornia emigrant who died while his 
caravan was passing through on 
their westward journey. 
Quite a number of the early settlers, 
whose names hav enot come down to 
us, were buried in this old grave 
yard. One pioneer, who was a boy 
at that time, describes clearly the 
simple burial service. The crude 
v/alnut coffins and the wooden head 
boards which had the name of the in- 
terred inscribed upon it with oil and 
lamp black. 

It is a serious reflection on the in- 
gratitude of this city that this sa- 
cred spot has been allowed to be des- 
ecrated in so many ways. The peo- 
ple whose bones lie there, whoever 
they may be, fought the battle of civ- 
ilization for us, enduring hardships 
and giving up life itself for the con- 
quest of the wilderness. They have 
bequeathed to us this good land for 
which we did not toil. Their last 
resting place deserves to be protected 
and treated with reverence and 
gratitude. Unless we set the example 
to future generations, God's acre will 
only hare a commercial value in the 
mind of the multiplied thousands who 
shall take our places. As the plain 
marble slab and the unmarhed grave 
have meant nothing to us, so the pol- 
ished monument and the splendid 
Mausoleum will mean nothing to the 
children of men who shall struggle 



-119— 



for an exiBtence in Mahaska county min F. IngelB, N. C. Crawford, Will- 
In one or two hundred years from to- iam Loughridge, James P. Dixon, 
day. May Heaven bless the memory Samuel A. Rice, M. L. Jackson, Wm. 
of the unselfish life of the pioneer M. Wells, John D. Gaunt, Wm. S. Ed- 
and keep us from being ungrateful gai, Samuel Ingels, anl Solomon E. 
to his dust Rhinehart, desiring to establiBh a 

On account of the wet and spongy new cemetery at or near the city of 
condition of the soil in this firstceme- Oskaloosa, in the county of Mahaska 
tery the ladies of the city organized and state of Iowa, do, heieby in ac- 
a society in 1848, which had for its cordance with the provisions of an act 
purpose the raising of sufficient passed by the Seventh General As- 
means to purchase and improve a sembly of the State of Iowa, entitled, 
five-acre lot a mile north of town. "An act for the incorporation of be- 
They raised money by making differ- nevolent, charitable, scientific or 
ent articles of plain clothing and missionary societies," approved Mar. 
placing them ou sale at the stores in 22d, A. D. 1858, adopt the following 
Oskaloosa. With means thus acquir- articles of Association." The entire 
ed they purchased from John White paper has the ring of completeness, 
the plat of ground now known as the It provided that the name of the Bo- 
old cemetery. This was used as the ciety should be Forest Cemetery As- 
city's burying grounc until 1860. In sociation. On the adoption of the 
June of that year a public meeting of charter the following officers were 
citizens was called to organize a cem- elected: President, Rev. J. F. Childs; 
etary association. At this meeting vice-president, Samuel A. Rice; sec- 
P. Myers, J. R. Needham, C. F. Childs retary, James McQuiston; treasurer, 
and Wm. Loughridge were appointed D. W. Lowring; director, W. S. Edgar 
as a committee to report articles of On August 20th, 1860, the Associa- 
incorporation for adoption at the next tion purchased of Wm. S. Dart twen- 
meeting. Another committee consist- ty acres of land at fifty dollars per 
mg of Wesley Moreland, W. S. Edgar acre, lying north east of the city. The 
and Wm. C. Rhinehart were appoint- land was surveyed, fenced and laid 
ed to select a site and ascertain the out in lots under the name of Forest 
cost of lands suitable for the location Cemetery. An average valuation of 
of a new cemetery. At the next not less than five cents yer square 
nueeting the committee on articles of foot was determined by a committee 
incorporation reported a suitable and a day appointed on which lots 
dharter. W© give the preamble in were sold to the highest bidder, with 
full because it contains a good list of the provision that each sale should 
weJl-known names and shows the bring not less than the price of the 
spirit of the founders of the new assessed valuation. John R. Need- 
movement: ham, James Seevers and W. S. Edgar 

"Be it known by these presents that were appointed a committee to report 

we, James Rhinehart, J. F. Childs, suitable rules and regulations. These 

Henry Lyster, Jas. A. Seevers, J. H. rules, with the articles were publish- 

Macon, Eli Ketner, John Y. Hopkins, ed in pamphlet form A majority of 

John R. Needham, James McQuiston, the projectors of this new cemetery 

D. Warren Lowring, Henry Howard, are now sleeping in its bosom. In 

Philip Myerg, A. F. Seeberger, Benja- later years an additional tract of 

-120- 



hmd, consisting of about twenty acres Thirty-third Iowa Infantry. The two 
was add'ed to the original purchase Iowa regiments which were in Gen- 
on the east. The Catholic cemetery era! Rice's brigade. The gallant of- 
is now located on a part of the fleer died of wounds received at the 
grounds last purchased. battle of Jenkins' Ferry. Captain 

A house was built for the sexton in Comstock, who was severely wounded 
1875. In that engagement, says that as Gen. 

Many of the well known pioneers Rice rode over the field, in the heat 
are buried in this city of the dead, of the contest, on seeing a number of 
A. S. Nichols, who was chairman of tis own brave men among the dead 
the board of county commissioners and wounded, he paused for a mo- 
from 1844 to 1848, lies here. He su- ment and, dismounting, with tears of 
pervised the surveying and platting of sympathy shook hands with thfe 
the town of Oskaloosa. We are told wounded and expressed deep solici- 
that he traded a horse for a 'claim of tude for the issue of the battle. Then 
several hundred acres just west of remounting, he swept onward to meet 
town, which he afterwards entered the enemy's last but deeperate and un- 
and improved, on a part of which Iowa successful attack. While riding down 
Christian college now stands. Mica- his left wing, he was wounded by a 
jah T. Williams rests here on the mlnie ball which caused his death, 
spot which he himself selected under The Grand Army of the Republic 
the restful branches of a large oak have grounds on the western slope of 
tree. Mr. Williams was the first the ridge where thirty-five of their 
county clerk and suggested to the cumber have found their last resting 
county commissioners the name of place. Eighty-nine of the original 
this city. William Loughridge, who members of the Post are dead. Many 
for years was the brilliant congress- of these, however, are buried in lots 
man from this district. His wife, with their lamilies. There are two 
Diploma Loughridge, was the first hundred and eighteen members of the 
burial in Forest cemetery. Her post yet living. The -ntire number 
death occurred Nov. 26, 1860, at the o: graves which are annually decorat- 
early age of twenty-five years. A ed by tneir comrades is one hundred 
gentleman who attended the funeral and fifty-eight. The above grounds 
says the ground was a veritable tangle now controlled by the Grand Army 
oi hazel brush and forest trees at that were purchased by an organization cff 
time and in no sense an inviting spot ladies during the war. After the war 
ill which to lay a loved one. Since had closed and the G. A. R. had been 
then there has been between four and organized, this plot of ground was 
five thousand laid to rest beneath its deeded to the Post here and has been 
sod. The monument of Brigadier somewhat enlarged by a donation 
General Samuel A. Rice is on one of from the cemetery association, 
the prominent drives. It is twenty- Among the dead will be found the 
three i.eet in height and fiv^ feet and names of John K. Needham, the found- 
fou rinches square at the base. On er of the Oskaloosa Hera.a, elected 
the upper part of the marble column lieutenant governor of Iowa in 1861. 
is carved the names of the eight bat- As noted abov«, Mr. Needham was 
ties in which the general engaged. It chairman of the committee on rules 
was erected by the Twenty-ninth and and regulations and suggested the 

-121- 



name of the association. He seems 
to have lived an unusually busy and 
useful life for h^ died at the age of 
44 years. 

Wm. Edmundson, the first sheriff of 
this county, has a monument to liis 
memory in this cemetery. Likewise 
liis brother, Matthew Edmundson,-who 
was also a Mahaska county pioneer. 

Rev. Asa Turner, who camo to Iowa 
iu 1838 and had much to do with the 
founding of both Denmark academy 
and Grinnell college. 

Wm. H. Seevers, one of Iowa's su- 
preme judges. 

The talented M. E. Cutts, who difed 
in "his 51st year. 

The studious and impartial Judge 
.7. Kelly Johnson. 

These and many of our most dis- 
tinguished citizens of the earlier days 
are buried here. Near the entrance 
to the cemetery on Ninth street stands 
a larg^ receiving vault which is used 
much in the winter when fhe ground 
is frozen. 

There is a growing number of beau- 
tiful monuments and private vaults 
which adorn the grounds. Among the 
more prominent of these is the Ffer- 
rall vault and the Spencer vault, the 
latter now in process of construction. 



The management have recently re- 
ceived a bequest of some ten thousand 
dollars from James McCauley to be 
used in building a memorial structure 
to his memory. Witli this fund it 
hns been decided to build a memorial 
chapel on the cemetery grounds which 
will accommodate about one hunarfed 
and fifty i)©rsons. 

The present board of ofllcers are as 
follows: President, W. R. Lacey; vice 
president and secretary, John A. Kal- 
bacti; treasurer, W. Esgien; directors, 
W. P. Hawkins and Frank Glaze; su- 
perintendent, W. H. Cunningham. 
The last named oflicer has served tne 
association for nineteen years. There 
ha-iTs been but few cbanges in the en- 
tire board in that length of time. Mr. 
Cunningham was preceded by James 
McQuiston, who had charge of the 
association grounds for a long term 
of years. 

The Cemetery Association now has 
a surplus fund of about twenty thous- 
and dollars. This fund will continue 
to grow until the grounds ane filled, 
and then form the basis of a perma- 
nent income whicb will be used per- 
petually to keep in order and beautify 
the grounds of the association. 



—122- 



Chapter Thirty 

Raitroa-ds of Mahaska. County — Their beginning and Gro'wth. 

Early in the fifties an air linr rail- road was to be completed to Oskaloosa 

road route was projected througli before September, 1860. The compa- 

lowa by a company named the Mis- ny were to expend the sum of $15,000 

sissippi & Missouri Railroad compa- in Mahaska county during the summer 

ny. Work was begun at Muscatine, of 1859, and the county was to pay 

The proposed route was surveyed di- interst on $100,000 of the bonds un- 

rectly through Mahaska county, cross- til thie road was completed to Oska- 

:u§; the rivBr at Roches to a During loosa. Certificates of stock to the 

Jrdge Crookham's administration of amount of the subscription were given 

county affairs one hundrel thousand by the company and also bonds for the 

dollars of county bonrls as a subscrip- execution of its contract. In a short 

tion to the enterprise were voted to time the sale of the bonds was en- 

the compaiwy but they were not is- joined because parts of the agreement 

sued. Soon after Judge Rhinehart had not been complied with, and the 

was e'ected county judg? in answer only loan ever made by the county 

to a petition of more than one-fourth was annulled. 

of the voters in the county, he sub- The bonds remained in possession 
mitted to the people the question of the company until 1870, when steps 
whether he should subscribe in the were taken by the board of supervis- 
name of the county $150,000 more in ors to recover them. In this they 
bonds payable in twenty years at ten were successful and Wm. G. Briggs, 
per cent interest, payable semi-annual- chairman of the board, and the coun- 
ly. The isubscription was voted in ty auditor were appointed a commit- 
March, 1856. Before delivering the tee to burn the documents, 
bonds Judge Rhinehart required se- H. R. Kendig says that in 1857, 
curity from the company that the road when the disposition of these bonds 
should be built. The security was not was in doubt, a delegation of gentle- 
given and the bonds were not deliv- men from Burlington, among whom 
ered. In 1859 Judge Rhinehart called were Fitz Henry Warren, afterwards 
for an election to decide whether the General, and Judge j. C. Hail, repre- 
loan should be rescinded or delivered senting the C, B. & Q. road, visited 
to the company. A decided majority Oskaloosa and a public meeting was 
were against rescinding and bonds to held in the old court house. The C, 
the amount of $200,000 were delivered B. & Q. was at that time completed to 
to John A. Dix, president or the com- Rome. These men proposed to our 
pany, with the understanding thatihe financiers that if they would make 

— 123- 



over to them the bonds which had ing the summer of 1864. The compa- 
been voted to the doubful M. & M. ny which furnished the capital for the 
road, the C, B. & Q. company would building of this road were Gilman & 
come up tne divide from Rome and Son, of New York City. Certain al- 
coming through Oskaloosa would takfe ternate sections of land located ten 
the third tier of counties to Council miles on each side of the Des Moines 
Bluffs instead of the second tier, over river had been granted to them by 
which their route had been surveyed, the state in consideration of this pub- 
They counted that they would gain a lie improvement. These lands bad 
decided advantage in the management been granted by congress to the Des 
of their road bed on this upland route Moines River Improvement Co. This 
across the state. Although ♦^hesemen concession had been made by con- 
pleaded their cause earnestly and elo- gress because of the belief then gen- 
quently, the moneyed men in Oska- erally shared that the Des Moines riv- 
loosa failed to see the immense value er could, with a system of locks and 
to be gained by the offer, and turned back-water dams, be made a naviga- 
It down. Everybody can see now that ble stream througnout most of the 
it was the golden opportunity not only year. Upon the failure of this com- 
In the lifetime of one generation, but pany these lands were transferred to 
In the lifetime of a city. Just what lae K., D. M. oi i.a. Railroad company 
Oskaloosa would have been all these on condition that tuey should assume 
years with a great trans-continental certain obligations and claims wnic 
trunk line touching its life eighteen to were due the settlers from the im- 
twenty hours out of the twenty-four of provement company. It was to the 
each day, it is difficult to tell. It is interests of the railroad company to 
said that E. W. Eastman became so build the road along the river adja- 
discouraged over the failure to accept cent to their lands and it was their 
this offer that he left the city, Iccat- intention to follow the stream, keep, 
ing at Eldora, and in after years was ing above high water mark to Des 
elected lieutenant goverhor of Iowa Moines. Their plea was that they 
Keokuk & Des Moines. were compelled to avoid the prairies 

The Keokuk and Des Moines rail- because of the drifting snows whicn 
road was built from Keokuk to Eddy- had been a gre"at source of expense 
ville as early as 1862. It was in- to many western roads in previous 
tended to extend it to Des Moines and winters. At the sessions of the legis- 
then on north into Minnesota. Until lature in 1863-4 the owners of the 
it reached Des Moines some years lat- road desired to secure such legislation 
er it was called the Keokuk, Des as would give them a complete title 
Moines and Minnesota R. R. Co. Then to their lands, in order that they 
for some years it was known as the might raise sufficient capital to con- 
Des Moines Valley. Later the name tinue building the road by mortgag- 
was changed to the Keokuk & Des ing these lands. Mahaska county 
Moines Railroad Co., which it retained was represented by Judge Crookham, 
until the road became a part of the and Poweshiek and Iowa counties by 
Rock Island System in 1878. M. E. Cutts. While these gentlemen 

From Eddyville the road was built favored the grant and were anxious to 
up the Muchaklnock Valley through see the road built, they determined to 
the southeast part of the county dur- oppose the bill unless the managers 

-124- 



were willing to bring the road tlirough upon this grade to Beacon and left 

Oskaloosa. When the bill was intro- the Oskaloosa company without com- 

duced into the senate, Mr. Crookham pensation. An offer of several thous- 

had an amendment presented by Sen- and dollars from Pella relieved fhe 

ator Clarkson providing that the road management of the road from fear of 

should go within one-half mile of the prairie snows and Instead of going 

Bquane in Oskaloosa. After 'some back to the Des Moines river as they 

debate it passed the senate and went had intended to ao, the road was sur- 

to the house. The chairman of the veyied through Pella and on to Des 

house committee pigeonholed the bill Moines, reaching that city in the fall 

and refused to present it to that body, of 1866. In the year 18V4 the road 

be being on the other side of the was bought by the first mortgage 

question. The railroad men then de- bond-holders for $1,175,000 and called 

clared that if the Oskaloosa amend- the Keokuk and Des Moines Railroad 

ment was insisted upon, they would Company. Some years latfer it was 

build the road up the river without leased to the Chicago, Rock Island 

legislation and leave Oskaloosa out. and Pacific, which now operates it in 

Jno. R. Barnes states that there was connection with its other lines. 

a distinct understanding between Dr. .. . „ , . . , . „ •^. 

Boyer and the Keokuk managers of the ^'^'"S^' ^"""^ '"'^"'' ^"d P^*^'*'*=- 

road that at a suitable point on thfe For a number of years the terminus 

Des Moines river along the line of of this branch of the Rock Island was 

the road above Eddyville a town at Sigourney. In 1875 Superintendent 

site 'Should be selected and that Riddle proposed to the people of Os- 

Dr. Boyer should have charge or kaloosa that he would build the road 

platting, laying out and selling into this city at once ir they would 

lots for the same. This latter furnish the right-of-way and raise the 

legislative lobby at the capitol. sum of $20,000. The proposition was 

The friends of the Oskaloosa meas- accepted by Oskaloosa and the money 

ures finally determined to make the was raised by local subscription. By 

best compromise which they could February of the following year the 

with the railroad authorities. They trains were ruuning into the city reg- 

agreed to support the bill which had ularly. The road extends across the 

passed the senate providing that the county directly westward to Knox- 

road should be built up the MuchakI- villB, which is its present terminus. 

nock valley to the nearest point on ,^,.,, r^nt-ai a a 

^ , J, Iowa Central R. R. 

that stream to Oskaloosa, and from 

there it was understood that the road While David Morgan was teaching 

would turn back to the Des Moines in Spring Creek institute two and a 

river. Back in 1860 an OsKaloosa half miles east of Oskaloosa, he called 

company had been organized under the first meeting to consioer the 

the name of the Mahaska County building oi the Iowa Central railroad. 

Railroad company, having for its pur- This was about 1863. Mr. Morgan 

pose the building of a railroad from was an organizer of unusual ability. 

Eddyville to Oskaloosa. They had He came to this county from Tennes- 

the road graded, partly oridged and see in 1860. He was a brother ot 

furnished with ties. In the spring of our Dr. J. W. Morgan. As early as 

1864 the K., D. M. & M. road built 1858, a north and south road had been 

—126— 



talked of by J. B. Grinnell and others, tion the grading was pushed. 
The wealth of the Iowa coal fields had After the usual vicissitudes in rail- 
been recognized and the coming de- road building, the road was completed 
mand for fuel for the railroads being from Albia to Mason City and on Feb. 
built further north had been anticipat- 4, igyi, the ceremony of driving the 
ed But the breaking out of the Re- last spike took place, just across 
bullion paralyzed the undertaking. A North Skunk river, about thirty-five 
corporation was formea and an or- feet this side of the Mahaska county 
ganization completed at New Sharon, ijne. The road has since been extend- 
Jan. 5, 1865, with neadquarters at Os- ed to connect with lines which run 
kaloosa. The following officers were from St. Louis to St. Paul, and with 
elected: David Morgan, president; A. the Peoria branch, which was built 
C. Williams, vice president; Z. T. ^ 1882, is a most valuable adjunct to 
Fisher, secretary; W. T. Smith, treas- oskaloosa and Mahaska county inter- 
urer; directors, David Morgan, H. P. ests. 

Pickerell, W. T. Smith, W. H. Seevers, ' c., B. & Q. R. R. 

Daniel Anderson, A. C. Williams,Peter 

Melendy, Z. T. Fisher and Reuben This road came to Oskaloosa from 
Michel, During this year a railroad Winfield in the year i883 and was suc- 
convention of delegates along the pro- cessfully operated as a Narrow Gauge 
posed line of the road from the state until it became a part of the C, B. 
line to Cedar Falls was held at Oska- & Q. system. On June 29, 1902, the 
loosa. ThOx first spade full of dirt entire 105 miles from Mediapolis to 
was thrown by President Morgan,with Oskaloosa, and the 18 miles running 
a silver spade, south of Cedar Falls, from Winfield to Washington, were in 
and at the same time a contract for twelve hours rebuilt anu widened to a 
twenty miles of graaing was let. Tne wide gauge road. Up to Jan. i, 1903, 
indifference of the citizens of Black the road was known as the Burling- 
Hawk and Tama counties to the new ton & Western Railroaa. Since that 
road afterwards caused a new survey date it has been operatec as a part of 
to be made through Marshalltown, the C, B. & Q. System. During the 
and the grade was never used. W. T. spring of 19 Ui the road was completed 
Smith succeeded Mr. Morgan to the to Tracy and now runs regular trains 
presidency and during his administra- between Chicago and Des Moines. 



-126- 



Chapter Thirty-One 

Origin, Gro<wfh a.nd History of Our Colleges. 

Everything good originates in tne now doing service as tae Friends' Mis- 
heart of some beneficent person who sion Chapel in West Oskaloosa. 
is not living wholly for him or her- Thomas Stafford lived to be 87 
self. This is especially true of our years old. He sleeps in the pioneer 
institutions of learning. There is cemtery in Spring Creek township, 
heavy toil and anxiety all along the which he himself helped to found, 
pathway of all kinds oi unselfish la- Later, largely through Mr. Staf- 
bor. But back in the beginning years ford's persistent labors and influence, 
there is a distinct character which the Friends esiablished a school two 
grows brighter with pasomg time, and one-half miles east of Oskaloosa. 
wnose faith and hope outreached his The building was a substantial frame 
fellows, and gave birth to the new three and a half stories high and the 
idea. Such a man was Thomas Staf school was opened Nov. 27, 1860. It 
ford, whom everybody knew In the was known as tne Spring Creek Insti- 
earlier days. His father came orig- tute and was placea m charge of 
inally from North Carolina. The Prof. David Morgan, ot Friendsville, 
household goods were hauled in a one- Tennessee. This village was located 
horse wagon and the family walked to not far from Knoxville in East Ten- 
Richmond iudiana. Mr. Stafford was nessee. The town had been built up 
a devout memoer oi the Friends' and named by Mr. Morgan, who had 
church and was the head workman charge of a flourishing academy in 
who built the historic Friends' church the place. The breaking out of the re- 
at Richmond.Ind. Having accumulated bellion paralyzed all educational efforts 
a small fortune.he went with a number in the South and Mr. Morgan and hl's 
of friends to Southern Missouri with brother. Dr. J. W. Morgan, accepted 
the thought of building up a colony, an invitation to take charge of the 
The country was not to his liking, and new Friends' school which had been 
through the influence of his friend, established in this county under the 
Samuel Coflin, he came to Iowa in the care of the Friends' Yearly Meeting, 
summer of 1843, locating in Spring Those who ^.new Prof. David Mor- 
Creek township. Through his Influ- gan, the head of the school, say that 
ence other members oi the Friends' he was a man of broad culture, pos- 
church became his neighbors, until sessing unusual force of characte". 
there was quite a community of his He was a mathematician and taught 
own sturoy faith. A house of worship these branches in his school. Dr. 
was built. This moaest building is Morgan says that he preceded his 

—127— 



brother some weeks and when he op- 
ened the now historic institute seven- 
ty-five young men and women enrolled 
as students. Among the first to grad- 
uate from the school were Prof. Jesse 
Macy, of Grinnell college, and Prof. 
M. Stalker, state veterinarian. At 
the end of three years the building 
took fire anu was wholly destroyed. 

After the detruction of the Spring 
Creek Institute by fire in 1863, steps 
were taken by the Iowa State meeting 
of the Friends' church to establish a 
college to be located at Oskaloosa. 
This organization was first called the 
"Iowa Union College Association of 
Friends." Under this name grounds 
were purchased from John White, 
north of Oskaloosa, and work was be- 
gun on the foundation. As usual in 
the beginning of every good and use- 
ful work, many difficulties were in 
the way. The foundation for the west 
wing of the present building was first 
undertaken. It was partly destroyed 
by a storm, but persevered in and 
completed in 1872, at a cost of $17,000. 
A school was openea in the fall of 
that year under the management of 
J. W. Woody, who was president of 
the institution for four years. 

At the Friends' annual meeting in 
1873 the name of tne school was 
changed to Penn college. The first 
term of collegiate work began Sept. 
9, 1873. On the retirement of Prof. 
Woody, the presidency was held by 
William B. Morgan for two years. In 
1879 Benjamin Trueblood became the 
head of the school and ably filled the 
office of president until 1890, whenne 
was invited to become 'secretary of 
the American Peace Society, and 
editor of The Peace Advocate, 
which office he still' holds. Pres. 
A. Rosenberger was chosen by the 
board of trustees to succeed Presi- 
dent Trueblood. The first class to 



graduate from the school was In 1875. 
Since that time there has been a 
graduating class each year. In the 
year closing 1905 the graduating class 
numbered thirty-two, the largest in 
the history of the institution. 

The school is growing rapidly, both 
in a broader usefulness and in larger 
equipments. Seven years ago the en- 
dowment fund was $20,000; now it is 
$106,000. But $75,000 or this fund, 
however, is productive, the balance is 
in the shape of bequests and gifts 
which are not interest-bearing at 
present. The aoove sum does not in- 
clude the generous gift to the school 
of $10,000 by the late James Callanan, 
of Des Moines. The institution has 
been favored by a number of gifts in 
recent years. Through the subscrip- 
tion and influence of David Skull, of 
Philadelphia, Pa., $10,000 endowment 
has come to the chair of English Lit- 
erature, which has for some years 
been filled by Prof. Rosa E. Lewis. 
Other friends of the college have giv- 
en generously to its support. 

The number of students enrolled 
during the year just closed was 354. 
The management calculate that the 
school brings annually to this city 
$45,000. The cost of the buildings 
and grounds as they now stand is $64,- 
000 and the institution is free from 
debt. The library is valued at $1,000; 
the laboratories and museum, $4,000, 
and the art collection, $2,000. 

The school is essentially Christian 
and the Bible is one of its text books 
with which every student must be fa- 
miliar before graduation. In a recent 
summary of its alumni, we notice for- 
ty-two ministers and eighty-seven 
teachers who are filling important 
places from New York to Oregon. It 
is difficult to estimate the local value 
of such a school to this city and coun- 



-128- 



ty, as well as to the general cause of 
higher education. 

The present faculty and instructors 
of Penn college are as follows: 

Absolom Rosenberger, President; 
Professor of Economics and Sociology. 

Rosa E. Lewis, Proffessor of Eng- 
lish Literature. 

Stephen M. Hadley, Professor of 
Mathematics and Astronomy. 

William L. Pearson, Professor of 
Biblical Literature and Exegesis. 

David M. Edwards, Professor of 
History and Principal of the Prepara- 
tory Department. 

Edwin Morrison, Proffessor of Phys- 
ics and Chemistry. 

Ella H. Stokes, Professor of Philos- 
ophy. 

Walter J. Meek, Professor of Biol- 
ogy and Geology. 

Ethel C. Rosenberger, Professor of 
the German and French languages. 

William E. Berry, Professor oi 
Greek a^^d Latin. 

J. Emory Hollingsworth, Professor 
of Latin. 

Lola Irene Perkins, Elocution and 
Oratory. 

B. A. Wright, Instructor in Book- 
keeping and Stenography. 

Louis F. Burnett, Instructor in Vo- 
cal Music. 

Elmer H. Gifford is the present Fi- 
nancial Agent. 

Oskalocsa College. 

At the state convention of the Disci- 
ples of Christ in Iowa held in Mount 
Pleasant, Iowa, in June, 1855, a reso- 
lution was passed to establish a col- 
lege in Iowa, tht? location to be de- 
cided at a futu»-e time. Oskaloosa, 
Marion, Winterset and Mount Pleas- 
ant were desirous to secure the loca- 
tion. A. S. Nichols, of Oskaloosa, of- 
fered to donate ten acres of ground 
for such an institution, and the citi- 



zens of Oskaloosa raised a subscrip- 
tion of $30,050 and secured its loca- 
tion. 'I'his decision was reached at 
an adjourned meeting of the state con- 
vention held in Oskaloosa Oct. 10 to 
13, 1856. The charter members of 
the board of trustees were the follow- 
ing: Aaron Chatterton, Richard Par- 
ker, Dr. C. G. Owen, J. Atkins, W. T. 
Smith, J. H. Bacon, A. S. Nichols, 
Matthew Bdmundson, C. Hall, J. M. 
Berry, W. A. Saunders, J. Swallow, S. 
H. Bonham and S. H. McClure. At a 
Board meeting in November, Aaron 
Chatterton, W. T. Smith and A. John- 
son were appointed a committee on 
articles of incorporation. At a later 
meeting the report of the committee 
was adopted and on motion of Aaron 
Chatterton, the institution was namea 
Oskaloosa College. On June 27, 1857, 
the contract for the building was let 
to J. J. Adams for $24,500 and Aaron 
Chatterton and J. F. Rowe were em- 
ployed as soliciting agents to raise an 
endowment fund. The work was be- 
gun with energy and earnestness, and 
in a short time tney had secured in 
endowment notes the sum of $20,000. 
Everything looked auspicious for ihe 
beginning of regular college work in 
1858. But when everything seemed 
promising the financial crisis of 1857 
burst upon the country. Contractors 
failed, subscribers were unable to pay 
their pledges, debts were incurred, 
and mortgages and leins were follow- 
ed by law suits. It seemed as though 
all was to be lost, when with the help 
of a few friends.Richard Parker saved 
the enterprise from absolute wreck. 
He was treasurer of the college board 
and it became the passion of his lite 
to see the work completed. By great 
self-sacrifice he raised enough money 
to save the property from sale and 
made some progress upon the building 
of the walls. After four years of pa- 



-129- 



tient effort one wing was enclosed, decided to dispose of the building and 
On June 9, 1860, the state convention grounds. Chas. J. Burton, of Canton, 
of the church voted to raise a relief Mo., was prevailed upon to move his 
fund of $10,000. Two young men, correspondence school, which he had 
George T. and W. J. Carpenter, re- built up in connection with Canton 
cent graduates of Abingdon and Eu- Univeffsity, to Oskaloosa. Having 
reka colleges, were secured to open a purchased all of Oskaloosa college be- 
Bchool in the fall of 1861. The first longings, July 17, 1902, he re-charter- 
annual catalogue was Issued in 1863. ed the school under the name of Iowa 
The building whose contract was let Christian College. He has advertised 
In June, 1857, was not completed un- extensively through advertising agen- 
til ten years later. The first students cies and has students in all parts ol 
to finish the college course were Fin- the world wherever the English Ian- 
ley L. McGrew and Geo. W. Seevers, guage is spoken. Last year the num- 
who graduated in 1867. Those who ber of his correspondence students 
acted as college president in the years reached seven hundred and averaged 
that followed were B. W. Johnson, F. throughout the year six hundred stu- 
M. Bruner, George T. Carpenter, G. ti. dents. He has been gradually build- 
Laughlin, R. H. Johnson, J. A. Seattle, ing up a local school, which numbered 
A. M. Haggard, J. M. Atwater and A. last year one nundred and seventeen. 
J. Youngblood. A. F. Ross and S. P. There were eleven graduates In tne 
Lucy acted as presidents pro tem for year just closed from the varoius de- 
a short time, and J. M. Stoke conduct- partments. The study of the Bible 
ed a normal school in the building for Is strongly emphasized in the corres- 
one year. pondence work. Under the head of 
At the close of this school the halls the Business Department, Book-keep- 
of the old college were silent for a ing, Short-Hand ana Telegraphy are 
year. It was impossible to keep up tuoroughly taught. Regular college 
the regular college course without a courses or parts of courses may no 
larger endowment fund, and the boara taken entirely by correspondence. 



—150- 



Chapter Thirty-Two 

The County Press — Its Development a.nd Gro<wth. 

The newspaper is tlie people's lieutenant governor of Iowa. Prom 
great university. It has done won- all that hag been said and written 
ders to unify the sympathies of civ- of Mr. Needtam since his death, he 
ilized men and convince mankind that must have lived a life which inspir- 
they are all brothers. The well con- ed men to their highest and best et- 
ducted daily and weekly newspaper forts. He had the unreserved con- 
keeps us in touch with one another fidence of his fellow men. 
and our sympathies become broader Mr. McNeely was a practical print- 
than our neighoorhood as we know of er and was the mechanical head of 
the prpsoerity or sufCerings of earth's the firm. A printing outfit had been 
multitudes. brought from Cambridge, Ohio. It 

It was quite an undertaking to had been used In publishing the 
start a weekly paper m a town Cambridge Times and had been pur- 
where its entire population was only cnased at the suggestion of Mr. Need- 
about 800 people, but Mahaska has ham by his father. This was supple- 
never been wanting in enterprising mented by the purchase of additional 
men. material by Mr. McN€tely In St. 

The first newspaper in this county Louis. All was transported to Keo- 

was born in the brain and heart of kuk by the Ohio and Mississippi 

John R. Needham, and the first num- rivers, thence overland to Oskaloosa. 

ber was issued July 2, 185o. For Miles Prine says that he got the first 

four months ic was known as The paper that came from the old hand 

Iowa Herald. On Nov. 1, 1850, it press on the day of its issue. His 

went to its subscribers as the Oska- father had subscribed for the paper 

loosa Herald and has so continued and had sent him to the office for a 

lor fifty-five years. copy. The press work was just rea- 

John R. Needham and Hugh Mc- dy to begin and he waited and was 

Neeley were its editors and publish- given the first copy, 

ers. The paper, when first issued. The first Herald office was located 

was a six-column folio. Both these on the second floor of a two-story 

young men were from Ohio. Mr. frame building on the southeast cor- 

Needham seems to have been the ner of the square, on the site where 

leading spirit in the enterprise. He now stands the W. I. Neagle grocery, 

came to Oskaloosa in 1849; was Popular enthusiasm nourished the 

twice elected senator from this paper and it grew with the growth 

county and also served one term as of the city and county. In 1858 the 

-131 — 



editorial management passed into the 
hands of Dr. Charles Beardsley, who 
piloted the paper through the war 
period. In the early sixties a small 
Herald Extra — only a sheet giving 
the latest bits of news — was issued 
as thfe news demanded. Eddyville 
was then the nearest telegraph and 
laJlroad station. A messenger from 
the Herald office daily waited at Ed- 
dyville for the incoming train that 
brought the Burlington Hawk-EyB, 
which contained the latest news. 
Then this courier would ride with all 
speed to the city and the paper 
would be in the hands of the pieople 
before the stage coach carrying the 
mail could arrive. It is said that 
four times during the war every em- 
ploye in the office laid down his task 
to join the ranks of the troops go- 
ing to the front. 

March 16, 1865, the paper was Is- 
sued under the management of Col. 
C. W. Fisher and W. E. Sheppard. 
A few years later Capt. W. A. Hun- 
ter had editorial charge. H. C. 
Leighton and W. H. Needham, a bro- 
ther of John R. Needham, became the 
owners of the paper in 1870. Both 
were young men of skill and ability 
and for eight years the paper saw 
good days. Henry C. Leighton, who 
was largely responsible for the edi- 
torial work, was called to lay his 
pen aside just when he seemed to be 
at the zenith of his usefulness. He 
was postmaster at oskaloosa at the 
time of his death, January 31, 1878, 
and had served his party two years 
as chairman of the state central com- 
mittee, winning a siate reputation 
for his skill and energy. Mr. Leigh- 
ton died when he was but thirty-five 
years of age. The editorial work on 
the paper was done for a time by 
Chas. Leighton, his brother, and Geo. 



R. Lee, both of whom were interest- 
ed partners. 

A. W, Swalm became connected 
with the paper in 1881. He was 
an editor of some years* experience 
and gave the Herald a distinct in- 
dividuality. 

The Evening Herald was published 
September 3, 1887, to meet the pro- 
gressive spirit of the times. It was 
well received from the beginning 
and we now have a six-column eight- 
page daily which contains the hap- 
penings of the world as reported by 
the Associated Press. 

On December 31, 1896, Chas. V. 
and Phil Hoffmann oecame the own- 
ers of the Herald property. Both 
gentleman had served an apprentice- 
ship in the various lines of the 
work in the office. Their manage- 
ment has been vigorous. Every want 
of the times has been met. It has 
been conservative without being nar- 
row, outspoken in principle, but 
never radical. 

On January 1, 1905, the Oskaloosa 
Herald company was organized ana 
incorporated and Chas. S. Walling 
and Miss Maggie Hoffmann became 
stockholders. The company is or- 
ganized as follows: Chas. V. Hoff- 
mann, President; Phil Hoffmann, 
Editor; Chas. S. Walling, Manager; 
Maggie Hoffmann^ Secetary-Treas- 
urer. 

Through the agency of the Herald 
Oskaloosa has become a news cen- 
ter. From the old Washington hand 
press, with a capacity or 120 copies 
an hour, the paper is now reeled off 
from a new Babcock Dispatch press 
at the rate of 3,000 per hour. 

The Herald was started as a Whig 
paper but has been republican in doc- 
trine since the organization of ttiat 
party. 



-152— 



In 1850 the Herald's entire outfit 
cost $300. In 1860 it sold for $4,000; 
in 1874 for $12,000 and in 1881 for 
$20,000. Since then it has steadily 
increased in value in a ratio equal to 
that of the past. 

More than a score of newspapers 
of different faith and doctrine have 
been launched in OsKaloosa since the 
establishment of the first oflBce in 1850. 
We are told that the Herald has never 
missed but two issues since its first 
publication. This was caused by high 
water during the first year of its life. 

The Oskaloosa Times was fl. st pub- 
lished in 1854, by Cameron & Inger- 
soll, then by R. R. Harbour and David 
Comes. Later it fell into the hands 
of A. A. Wheelock, whose drastic edi- 
torials so offended the soldiers in the 
field from this county that in 1864, 
when at home on furlough they raided 
the office and partly destroyed its 
contents, which ended its publication. 
Wm. Leighton showed us a copy of 
the last issue of Wheelock's paper. 
Shortly after the suppression of the 
Times, Ira C. Mitchell established a 
paper called the Watchman, which 
had a short life. In 1866 P. C. Welch 
began the publication of the Demo- 
crat-Conservator. Later it was chang- 
ed to the Iowa Reform i-.eader. About 
1874 The Oskaloosa Standerd came 
into existence and was conducted by 
Nelson D. Porter for some ten years. 
I. R. Eckart started the Oskaloosa 
Messenger, which was published for 
six years. In 1884 the Messenger ana 
Standard consolidated and foundea 
the Oskaloosa Labor Union, Out of 
this came a revival of the Oskaloosa 
Times, a straight democratic paper, 
edited by James E. Seever until his 
death in 1896. In that year tUe daily 
and weekly News, which had been in 
existence about a year, consolidated 
with the Times, under the manage- 



ment of G. B. McFall. For a time the 
paper prospered. Later L. J. Ander- 
son had charge. Some mishaps In 
the management caused the paper to 
suspena March 27, 18a7, and the plant 
was sold to satisfy a mortgage held 
by Mrs. Zoa Seevers, widow of James 
Seevers, the former editor, who had 
practically given his young life to 
keep the paper moving. June 1, 
1898, Richard Burke revived the 
Times and continued its publication 
as a weekly, Mrs. Burke uniting with 
her husband in the editorial work. 
They are cultured people and gave 
their readers a paper of high merit. 
The Oskaloosa Daily and Weekly 
Journel was started in June, 1892. It 
was at first edited by George H. 
Blanchard, and was really the suc- 
ceesor to the Farmer and Miner. At 
the close of tue first year Mr. Blanch- 
ard severed his connection with the 
paper and it was edited for a time 
by Miss Anna Delashmntt, who has 
been the local editor. A year later 
Fred and Harry Davis and Aif. Woos- 
ter became interested in the paper 
and it was published under the Arm 
name of Wooster-Davis Publishing Co 
In 1897 L. J. Anderson became asso- 
ciated with the ownership and the 
firm became Wooster & Anderson un- 
til 1902, when the plant was purchas- 
ed by C. E. Lemley and Richard 
Burke and consolidated with 
The Times. The paper was then is- 
sued as a daily and weekly, under the 
name of The Times-Journal, until 
Dec. 1, 1904, when it was pnrchasect 
by C. A. Dickens. On Jan. 1, 1905, 
the daily came out as a morning pa- 
per, called Tho Morning Telegram. 
It gave a complete report of the asso« 
ciated press dispatches and was pub- 
lished at a heavy cost of labor and 
money. The paper failed to become 
self-supporting and on July 29, 1900, 



-133- 



was sold to C. E. Lemley and H. b. 
Rosecrans, who will continue the pa- 
per a a democratic weekly, under the 
name of The Oskaloosa Times. 

Saturday Globe. 

Nfext to the Herald, the paper 
which has outlived all other contem- 
poraries, is the Saturday Globe, pub- 
lished and well edited by Shockley 
Bros. & Cook. Ihe paper was estab- 
lished by Alonzo Sherman, in 1881, 
and called The Teiepnone. It was 
first issued as a four column folio anu 
shortly afterwards enlarged to double 
tiiat size. In 1882 it was sold to J. 
W. Jarnagin who continued its pub- 
lication for two years and won a fair 
degree of prosperity and recognition. 
In May, 1884, J. W. Johnson bought 
The Telephone office and formed a 
partnership with Ci. W. and T. m. 
Shockley. The firm was known as 
Johnson and Shockley Bros. The 
paper gr ew rapidly in public favor. 
July 1, 1894, Mr. Johnson sold hla In- 
terests to I. W. Cook, changing the 
name of the firm to Shockley Bros. & 
Cook. Thfe Globe office is well equip- 
ped with modern machinery and Its 
management Is along the lines of ad- 
vanced thought and methods. In ad- 
dition to the representative weekly 
there Is Issued from the office each 
montn The Iowa Sunday School Help- 
er, The Christian Endeavor News, 
The Congregational Iowa and Penn 
Chronicle. 

New Sharon Star. 

The first issue of the Star appeared 
Jan. 22, 1873. Its office was on thj 
second floor of the H. T. Wright build- 
ing at the northwest corner of Main 



and Market streets. The building Is 
now owned by George W. Way. H. J. 
Vail was its editor and publisher. The 
paper was a success from the first. 
In 1875 Mr. Vail erected a half block 
north of the first office the comfort- 
able two-story building 20x90 feet, 
which has since been the home of the 
Star. April 1, 188&, Mr. Vail sold the 
paper and its belongings to his broth- 
er, David Vail, whj was Its editor un- 
til Jan. 1, 1897, when Ross A. Nichol- 
son became the owner of the proper- 
ty. On Aug. 1, 1900, H. J. Vail again 
came into possession of the paper and 
Is still at the helm. The Star haa al- 
ways been good property and Its value 
has increased with the growth and 
prosperity of the territory which It 
covers. Mr. Vail has always been a 
clear and vigorous writer. A paper Is 
wtat the editor makes it, and the 
New Sharon Star has won a credit- 
able place In the journalistic field. 

The Fremont Gazette. 

The Fremont Gazette is now in its 
fifteenht year of publication. After 
the usual years of battling for an ex- 
istence It is now under the manage- 
ment of A. P, Norton, who purchased 
the paper in July, 1902, and has put 
the plant on a paying basis. It Is 
much appreciated by the community 
which he serves. The paper was 
founded by Sam Sherman, who has a 
record of establishing twelve different 
papers in Iowa. In its existence It 
has had as editor Horace Greeley, a 
namesake of the great journalist, and 
Charles Pearson, who is now the edi- 
tor of The Sucker State, at Moham- 
met, Illinois. 



•124- 



Chapter Thirty-Three 

Oska.loosa. Fifty Years Ago And Oskaloosa. Today. 

Oskaloosa was incorporated as a located. The old Herald flies show 

city In July, 1853, and had at that that John R. Neeanam, its editor, 

time a population of about one kept continually before his readers 

thousand persons. Three years pre- the value of planting trees. It is to 

vious its assessed valuation was him in a large measure that we are 

$754,170. indebted for the overnangmg boughs 

There was perhaps a score of saw- in many of the avenues of the city, 

mills in different parts of the county which has earned for this place the 

turning out lumber for permanent name of "The City of Trees." A 

improvements both in the city and goodly number of the men who have 

country. laid Out additions to the city have 

At the close of the fiscal year end- been persistent tree planters. It was 

ing June 30, 1852, there had been re- about 1853 when the first trees were 

ceived at the post office 13,958 let- planted in the square. They wer« 

ters. During the same time there nourished and cared for by different 

had been mailed 15,762 letters. enterprising individuals. Almost all 

The population of both city and of the original planting are gone, 
county grew very rapidly. The orig- Dwight Downing calls attention to 
inal plat of the city covered a guar- the large elm in front of the Down- 
ter section of land lying on the di-i ing Hotel, which he says was plant- 
vide, known as The Narrows. The ed by A. F. Seiberger, who built the 
public square is located exactly on first story of the brick house known 
the water shed between the Skunk as the D. W. Loring home, on Bast 
river on the north and the Des High avenue. 

Moines river on the south. Since About this time brick began to 

the square has been elevated and the take tKe place of native timber In 

band stand erected it may be said the better class of buildings. John 

with truth that the water falling from H. Shumate built the old I. Frankei 

the roof on the north side goes to home on South Market street, also 

the river on the north and that the Jonathan Adklns home. Wesley 

which fails from the south side of Moorland built the Dr. Rhlnehart 

the roof reaches the Father of Wat- home. Both these places are south 

ers through the channel of the Des of the Congregational church. Sam- 

Moines river. uel McWilliams built the brick edl- 

As is well known, there was not a fice known as the Isaac Kalbach 

tree on this ridge when the town was place across the street north of tli% 

— 15S— 



Salvation Army barracks, and Samu- square stood ths old court house, 
el Ingles built the Greenough prop- On the Baldauf corner the first 
erty, which still stands, west of the twenty feet was occupied by a frame 
O. B. & T. stables. building containing a general store. 

It would be interesting to maiie kept by W. S. Dart. On thB adjoin- 
a trip around the square in the ear- ing lot soutn was his small brick 
ly fifties, about the time that the vil- residence standing back from the 
rage thought itself old enough to put sidewalk some twenty feet. After a 
on city airs. With the help of Wm. vacant lot came Dr. Hinton's drug 
T. Smith, the hrst mayor, and Isaac store and then two buildmgs owned 
Kalbach, the first city marshal, we by W. S. Edgar and Jones & Young, 
undertake the task. These venerable Across the alley south was the first 
gentlemen are the two surviving brick business building on the 
members of the first city govern- square, owned by W. B. Street and 
jx^Qjxt. G. W. Baer. The adjoining lot was 

Beginning on the Huber & Kal- vacant and the next two contained 
bach corner, there stood a two-story small wooden buildings containing 
frame building occupied by Ebenezer groceries. One of tuem was kept by 
Perkins, who was one of the commls- Wesley Mettler. It is stated that Mr. 
sioners ' who located this city. He Mettler's frugal habits prompted him 
had a general store and lived in ae to invoice his little stock of grocer- 
rear part of tne building. Next to ies quite often. One day a customer 
him on the west in a wooden build- called and found the door lockea. 
ing was the post ofhce. Kept by Sam- Asking the reason, the proprietor 
uel Ingles. An "ell" to this build- answered, "We are devoicing, sir." 
ing also gave the family a home. On the Mahaska County Bank cor- 
Then came the largest brick block ner stood the old Oskaloosa House, 
which had yet been built, called the It was a two story frame in front 
Union block. It was completed in with a porch above and below. The 
1854, but haa been in process of proprietor was john N. Kinsman, 
erectiou for several years. The 20- Mr. Kinsman was e'ectea county 
foot store rooms to the alley were treasurer in 1860. We are told that 
built by their owners in the follow- during the early years this hotel had 
ing order: Tobias liCighton, George no superior in the town. Across 
Roland, John N. Kinsman and Sam- tsouth on the Will Seevers comer 
uel Ingles Across the alley west- were one story frame buildings, 
ward were frame buildings owned by Henry Howara kept a grocery store 
John Waggoner and Thomas Thomp- there at one time. Continuing east, 
son. Next was John Abraham's gro- at the Boyer corner was a two story 
eery and queensware store and J. D. wooden building in which A. G. Phil-- 
Fletcher, harness and saddlery store, lips kept a dry goods store in 1851. 
The next two stores were brick, the Then as far east as the alley on the 
first occupied by A. F. Seiberger south side of the square were small 
with hardware, and the one on lue shacks of wooden buildings. In one 
corner by D. W. Loring's dry goods of these Chas*. Evans, a brother of 
store, which he built and which his Capt. Evans, kept a bakery for a 
estate still owns. Across the street time. Across the alley was first a 
on the northwest corner of the one-story frame and then a one and 

-156— 



one-half story with some vacant lots, ed shelter to an Oskaloosa family for 
On the Neagle corner stood a two- more than fifty years, 
story frame, th^ seconfl floor of which The ground on which this old hotel 
was for several years the home of stood has never been used for any 
the Oskaloosa Herald. On the eye. other purpose except a hotel site. In 
tooth corner southeast of the square 1856 Major F. L. Downing purchased 
was a one-story frame in which a tim Madison House, and being espe- 
John Hagfey kept a grocery. Across cially fitted by nature and culture to 
the street to the north John J/Tont- handle the public, he made a great 
gomery had a general store in a two- success. He related to a friend that 
story frame on the corner, and a one- during those early years wlien two 
story brick residence adjoining set to four stagies stopped every morning 
back into the lot. Next came a little for breakfast, he made $6,000 in fif- 
frame building with a tin shop, a,nd teen months from ten rooms, 
then the Madison House, which was In 1874 the old house was removed 
known between the rivers as the and an elegant three-story brick, 60 
home of the tired and hungry traveler xllO feet, was erected and when fur- 
In the earlier years before the west nished cost $48,000. The new build- 
was thoroughly organized, the hotel ing took the name of the Downing 
became the headquarters not only for House. With but few interruptions 
the traveling public, but fc* strand- Mr. Downing was connected with this 
ed humanity from whatever cause, hotel for 25 years, until the time 
John R. Baer relates that in 1855 a of his death, April 4, 1881. He was 
California emigrant, returniiU; east, at all times one of Oskaioosa's most 
was taken with cholera at th's tav- enterprising citizens. In recent years 
ern. As there were no provisions for the Downing has been remodeled and 
the care of such cases in the city, another story added, 
the patient remained at the hotel un- Across the alley where the court 
til he died. The authorities found it house now stands was Yankee Smith's 
very difficult to get anyone to care grocery. D. W. Oglevie had a cloth- 
for the body. The case appealed to ing store on the next lot. Passing a 
his father, Geo. W. Baer, and he vol- vacant lot, John W. Irvin had a jew- 
unteered to assist in preparing the elry store. Next to the corner was 
body for burial. When all was over Macon Brothers' drug store, and on 
he took down with the same deadly the corner Hardy, Searle & Young 
trouble. While he was yet ill, Mrs. kept a stock of dry goods. All these 
Bear was smitten ana died at the were temporary one-story buildings, 
early age of 35 yeeo-s. His father's This corner and across the street 
only sister, who made her home in north, when vacant, are said to have 
the family, also became a victim. She been the show grounds of the town 
had cared for Mrs. Baer during her in the earlier years. The northeast 
illness and went down rapidly to an corner of the square at this time was 
early grave. The home of the Baer without buildings, 
family at that time was in what Is The north boundary ol the original 
now an old story and a half house plat is one-half block north of D ave- 
still standing at the corner of A ave- nue, and the east boundary one-hali 
nue and B street. It is a mute sei- block east of Third street. The south 
tinel of the old days and has afford- is bounded by Third avenue and the 

-137— 



west line is one-liair block west of D loss almost as large. The destruction 
street. To this plat have Deen addea of the opera house hlock in 1889 in- 
at different times additions to the eluded besides the opera housfe, Byron 
city usually bearing the name of the S. Henry's furniture store and the 
person or firm who platted and sold postoffice. All the buildings in this 
the property. On the south and block were rebuilt at once. Graau- 
southwest were the first and second ally the old framB strictures were 
Montgomery additions, the Lacey destroyed by fire, or became unten- 
additon the first and second able, and were replaced by more sub- 
Houtz additions, the Ninde Wil- stantial brick buildmgs. The Cen- 
liams & Company addition, and the tennial Block, on the north side, was 
Southside. On the \resi we find tne built in 1876, by I. Frankel, Richard 
Marks, Loughridge & Cassady, West Parker and Christian noutz. Join- 
Oskaloosa and Baugh's addition. ing it on the east is the Dixon Block, 

On the north we have Crookham, erected in 1897. The riuber & Kai- 
Donahey, Hambleton, Whitacre, West- bach corner, now owned by Williams 
ervelt, Ninde & Sfearle, Mendenhall, Brothers, was built in 1882. Across 
Mulhallen and Ridge Place additions, the street stands the W. R. Nugent 
On the east were the W. T. Smith corner, built in 1892, and the J. B, 
and W. H. Seevers first and McCurdy buildings were completed in 
second additions, Baer, Kemper,Hetn- 1884. Adjoining these is the W. A. 
erington. Street, Myers & Smith, and Seevers Block, No. 2, now owned by 
in the southeast part of tne city is John A. xvalbach. On the corn'er 
located O'Neill's recent addition, south of the Downing House are the 
These and many other smaller addi- Gibbs buildings, built in 1889. Mr. 
tions appear on the city map. The Gibbs also built the Globe Block, ad- 
city grew very rapidly in the later joining the opera house, and the 
years of the fifties. Emigration to building now occupied by the Herald 
the state being very heavy in the office on North Market, and several 
years preceding the war of the Re- other creditable structures, 
bellion. During the four years of the The McMillen Block, on East First 
terrible civil war the nation gave ai- avenue, was built in 1881 by Dr. B. 
most its entire energies to the pre- F. McMillen. The Evans Biock, on 
servation of the union. Internal im- the southeast corner of the square, 
provements received but little atten- was built by David Evans. The W. 
tion. A. Seevers brick block covers the 

In the summer of 1863 six frame southwest corner of the square, 
buildings were buriiea on the north The Lacey hciel, covering the south- 
side of the square. These were re- east quarter of this block, is an ele- 
built some years later, and on Jan. 20, gant three-story bricK structure con- 
1873, were again destroyed by fire, taining one hundred ana forty rooms. 
From the ashes of tnese two fires has and cost $75,000. Among the newer 
sprung tne Phoenix L.ock, built in *iie buildings on the west side of the 
latter year. In ^874 four buildings square are the Williams Block, built 
were burned on the northwest corner in 1892; the Frankel building, now 
of the square, causing a loss of $17,- occupied by the Pfeifer-Belmont Co., 
000. A fire on the nortn side of was built in 1889, ana the Samuel Bal- 
West High avenue in j.s77 entailed a dauf corner, built in 1890. The Jones- 

-138- 



Reigel and i'itcn BrotLers new brick 
block on West High avenue, just be- 
ing completed, is a model structure. 
Its erection was made nfecessary by a 
destructive fire in February, 1905. 

Our splendid court bouse, locatea 
on the east side of the square, was 
completed in 1885, at a cost to the 
county of $145,000. Just east of the 
quarter block on which the court 
house stands, the new county jail is 
located. It was built in 1901, at a 
cost of $25,000. The first .ank in Os- 
Kaloosa was opened March 1 1855, 
in the Union Block, by W. T. Smith 
and M. T. Wlliams. The building 
now occupied by the Mahr.ska County 
bank was built by Crookham & 
White in the early sixties, and has 
been used as a bank building since 
its erection. The Mahaska Co. Savings 
bank built the corner building now 
owned and occupied by the Oskaloosa 
National bank, in 1876. It was con- 
verted to a national bank three years 
later by a vote of the stockholders. 
The Frankel bank is located in the 
Centennial block on tne north side. 
The building occupied by the Oska- 
loosa Savings banic on the west side 
was built by Henry Price. 

The Wightman block on the south 
side of East High avenue is a recent 
substantial improvement. Our ele- 
gant Y. M. C. A. building on East 
Hig'h avenue, completed in 1903, at a 
cost of $40,000, is the measure which 
Oskaloosa places on the life and char- 
acter of its young men. It would take 
the space of another chapter to 
speak of the free public library, the 
postoflace, the six public school build- 
ings, and tlve various churches of the 
city, all constructed at an enormous 



cost. The improvements during 1904 
amounted to $C83,700. Oskaloosa is 
the fifteenth city in size in the state. 
Its growth has always been perma- 
nent and healthful. Its population ia 
now 10,108. If our republican institu- 
tions live this city and county is but 
a child of what it will be before the 
opening of another century. 

Closing Statement. 

A good portion of what has been 
written for these chapters has never 
ben published before. It has been an 
interesting study and has grown in 
interest from the beginning. 

Much of the history of the latter 
years has not been touched for want 
of space. It has been the chief 
thouglit of the writer to cover pretty 
thoroughly the early pioneer period. 
Some mistakes have crept into this 
first draft. All the manuscripts will 
be carefully corrected and re-written 
for publication in book form. Con- 
siderable new matter will be added 
and some abbreviations will be made. 
More thought will be given to making 
the volume a book of reference for 
the home and school library. The 
time is not distant when every teach- 
er will be required to know the lead- 
ing facts in the history of the county 
in which she teaches. We are mak- 
ing history rapidly. Two things have 
been kept in the mind of the writer 
from the beginning, viz.: To honor 
the pioneers of Mahaska county and 
to interest the reader. If the Herald 
readers have taken as much pleasure 
in the perusal of these chapters as 
the writer has in gathering and ar- 
ranging the facts, the compensation 
has been mutual. 



■139— 



B 



1) e.a ^ ^ 



I 









-/- ' « 4 ^ *» , 1 I, 



<^< 












.-^ 






I 






J 



<" . '" , >, 












/XVWj^;^,,^^',-'.^<, ^<> 



:^^ 



%<• 



•x^-^ ■% 



v ■^ ■ 



,0o. 



.^^ 



'^'^ % 



.\^ '< 






f O 






^^N^ 





\ 




rS^ 


'^ . 


t 9 * , t^- 


'; N l-' 










■^ ^' 




\^^ 


" 


o> </^, 






.0^ 






r '^. . V 






/^ o 



» I ' \ 



:u^' 






'^^. 



\\"^^ 



^^. .s-^'"' 



^ ,»e-'^'n>>. -' 






■ t<. 



a\ 






;> %. o 









o. ''.: 



v-^ 



.-.^' ^ 



\ I n 



kO^-.. 






.0- 






^ * .<}> 






C 



0' ,<■'"■* 



t^>x^ 






^ ^v>-. 



.0 o^ 






o "^ > 



. ,^^>''^. 



>^N^ 



.^ 



>JvS-' 






o 



•'-',0*". -»;%'•''■>'■ 



'\" 









^^,^ 






1^ ^ .0 



"-■^ .\^ 



"^^- v^ 









■V 















<? 



.V 



-0-^^ 






■ V 






^^ 



■A 















t/> 



.^^ 






^c^ 



* ^^ 



^%' ^ 



^v 



A> -r 






^^ , o-^ '^ //%,'^' **'" n"^^ -* ' • ' 



O^ 



0°' ^ 



% 



A^ 



0' 



"^^ v^^ 



■^oO^ 



/ 



.^^ -^^^ 



o 



< r-'-' 



\ 



)BBS BROS. 

lARY BINDINC 



P 69 

AUGUSTINE 
^^ FLA. 



^0 o^ 



-^.c^^ 









,\' 



%" 



• 'V 









cT^ -^^ 






